Oregon Department of Forestry officials made the announcement Tuesday. None of the nine wildland firefighting crews managed by First Strike Environmental can return to contract duties until they complete alcohol awareness training.
The rest of the First Strike crew, traveling in caravan when this accident happened, now must complete alcohol awareness training before they can return to fire duty.
"Well, you know it's a hard thing, It's a hard thing because you kind of feel like gee haven't they paid enough," said Tom Berglund, with the Oregon Department of Forestry. He says the alcohol violation is so serious it cannot be ignored.
Eight firefighters died in the wreck and a Malheur County Sheriff's investigation revealed the driver had been drinking.
"I mean it's horrible to lose eight people in an incident like that, so ODF and first strike are certainly working towards the same goals and we're working together," said Leslie Habetler, with First Strike.
This year's crew agreement administered by the Oregon Department of Forestry includes about 90 private contractors, overseeing about 6000 firefighters. Officials here say that this suspension is meant to send a message to all of them.
"After a fire you're done and it feels so good to be going home, so good, and we just want crews to know you can't let up then. You can't let up and we need to be safe all the way through from the time you leave your home to the time you get back," said Berglund.
Officials say the suspension will be lifted after they have proof all first strike firefighters have successfully completed the training. Crew and squad bosses must have additional training on identifying alcohol and drug abuse.
The Malheur County District Attorney says he will file criminal charges against first strike by the end of the week. He may also press more serious criminal charges, against two supervisors, who allegedly saw the firefighters purchase alcohol and did not intervene.
