SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - An assistant wildlife biologist with Los Padres National Forest is among roughly 1,000 forest employees chopped by the Trump Administration. And among a handful of local position.
Benjamin Vizzachero said he was fired more than a week ago and has heard that more cuts are coming.
"We're the next generation. The people that were there for the Thomas Fire you know, they're approaching, many of them are approaching retirement. Many of them get burnt out."
Vizzachero told Your News Channel many people don't realize these employees play vital roles in fire prevention and suppression.
At the time of his firing, Vizzachero said he was heavily involved in work for the fuel break along the Camino Cielo Ridge above Montecito. He was also working to determine work impacts to the endangered California Spotted Owl. And, was undergoing specialty training similar to what was used to determine landslide risk following the Thomas Fire.
"I want people to put two and two together, what's happening in Washington, the people being fired, we're not bureaucrats, you know, we're not fat cats collecting a paycheck sitting at a desk all day writing meaningless reports. We're the people that work on the ground, in the field. They're firing the people that empty the trashcans and clean the trails."
Vizzachero said even though this administration did him "dirty" he is fighting to get his job back with support from his union, the Forest Service Council.
Meantime, he wants the public to be aware that critical projects will be delayed, including the creation of critical fuel breaks to keep fires from jumping open space and into populated areas.
Vizzachero has a message for people how care about Los Padres National Forest.
"If you care about having places to hike, hunt, bike, ride a dirt bike -- whatever you're doing out there -- go camping, if you care about having these spaces available then you need to advocate, write to your congresspersons."
Los Padres National Forest wildlife biologist speaks out after firing News Channel 3-12.
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