Two wildland firefighters were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents on Wednesday whilst battling the Bear Gulch Fire in Mason County, as federal authorities investigated government contractors working at the blaze.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the arrests occurred after the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service requested assistance to terminate firms operating at the fire scene. During identity verification of crew members, agents discovered two individuals were illegally present in the United States, with one having a prior removal order.
The firefighters were taken into custody on illegal entry charges and transported to Bellingham for processing. The arrests took place as crews continued battling the nearly 9,000-acre blaze, which remains only 13 per cent contained according to InciWeb.
“This cooperative effort highlights the coordination between federal agencies in ensuring the integrity of government operations and maintaining public trust in fiduciary matters,” said USBP Blaine Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rosario P. Vasquez.
The detentions drew sharp criticism from Washington political leaders who condemned the administration’s immigration enforcement priorities. Senator Patty Murray called the Trump administration’s immigration policy “fundamentally sick” and questioned the impact on wildfire response capabilities.
“Trump has undercut our wildland firefighting abilities in more ways than one, from decimating the Forest Service and pushing out thousands of critical support staff, to now apparently detaining firefighters on the job,” Murray stated.
Governor Bob Ferguson expressed similar concerns about what he termed “cruel immigration policies” affecting wildfire response efforts. “We are indebted to the courageous firefighters who keep our communities safe,” Ferguson said, adding that his team was seeking more information about the arrests.
Attorneys at Oregon’s Innovation Law Lab, representing one of the detained firefighters, called the arrest unlawful and criticised federal authorities for concealing their client’s whereabouts. Staff attorney Rodrigo-Fernandez-Ortega said the firefighter had been unable to contact legal counsel or family members since the detention.
“We have seen entire towns burned to the ground, and it is outrageous that the US border patrol unlawfully detained the brave individuals who are protecting us,” Fernandez-Ortega stated.
The arrests occurred during an active wildfire emergency when every available firefighter is typically considered essential to containment efforts. Incident commanders told local media they were aware of Border Patrol’s presence but maintained that fire operations were not impacted by the enforcement action.
The case highlights tensions between immigration enforcement priorities and emergency response needs, particularly during active wildfire seasons when specialised crews are in high demand across western states.
Federal authorities have not disclosed details about the contractors under investigation or the specific reasons for terminating their services at the fire scene.
