Congresswoman Emily Randall Demands Full Transparency Following Arrest of Firefighters at Bear Gulch Fire Site

Bremerton, WA- Representative Emily Randall (WA-06) today led a congressional letter demanding full transparency from federal agencies following the arrest of two firefighters by U.S. Border Patrol (CBP) agents while they were actively battling the over 9,000-acre Bear Gulch wildfire on the Olympic Peninsula.

This letter, sent to Secretary Kristi Noem, Commissioner Rodney Scott, and Acting Director Bill Groffy, expresses profound concern over reports that federal agents - in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service - detained firefighters engaged in emergency response efforts.

"The arrest of these firefighters, who put their lives on the line to perform lifesaving duties, is simply disgusting," said Rep. Randall. "This is exactly the kind of thoughtless and cruel immigration enforcement we've come to expect from the Trump Administration - prioritizing deportations over public safety, even when it means undermining coordinated emergency response efforts and putting entire communities at risk."

Eyewitness accounts from Wednesday described a three-hour operation where federal agents demanded identification from firefighting crews, with officers reportedly telling firefighters not to record the incident. Forty four firefighters were forced to show their identification and answer questions during Washington's largest active fire at over 9,000 acres.

"While CBP tries to spin this as routine paperwork, the reality is that agents entered an active disaster zone, terrorized workers risking their lives to save our communities, and left us all less safe in the process," Randall said.

The letter notes that standard emergency protocols are intended to shield first responders working in hazardous environments from enforcement interventions, and raises serious concerns that these critical safeguards were completely ignored in favor of Trump's immigration crackdown priorities.

The congressional letter demands answers to critical questions, including whether the 2021 DHS policy -- which restricts immigration enforcement at disaster response locations -- remains in place, what specific exigent circumstances warranted the arrests, and whether standard incident command protocols and interagency coordination were observed.

"We should not have to tell federal agencies that wildland firefighting is one of the most dangerous and critical public safety duties, but apparently basic common sense doesn't apply when there's an opportunity to advance Trump's anti-immigrant agenda," Rep. Randall said. "These firefighters deserve respect, not handcuffs. They deserve support, not deportation threats. And our communities deserve emergency responders who can do their jobs without fear of being arrested for the crime of trying to save land and lives."

The Bear Gulch fire has burned since July 6 and remains Washington's largest active wildfire. The congressional letter requests responses no later than September 12. 49 representatives joined Rep. Randall is sending the letter.