A temporary pay bump for federal firefighters is slated to end in November, raising fears that up to 50% of the workforce could quit as the country faces more extreme wildfires

• Federal wildland firefighters could see sizable pay cuts if Congress doesn't step in soon.
• Many fear that there could be an exodus of firefighters at a time when the US can least afford it.
• In recent years, extreme weather events have necessitated robust responses to wildfires. 

Next month, thousands of federal firefighters may face a dreaded scenario that they've long sought to avoid: hefty pay cuts.

And the cuts could reduce staffing levels among the federal workforce, potentially imperiling one of the country's most significant lines of defense against wildfires, which have become more prevalent in recent years.