Black humor can be entertaining and funny. This isn't sardonic black humor. Not at all. This is a wanton health care travesty:

LARIMER COUNTY CO — John Lauer and the other Tatanka Hotshots scrape smoldering ground until their hands blister, suck down smoke until they gag, and suffer periodic showers of flame retardant. The seasonal firefighters don't have federal health insurance and can't buy it if they want to.

Although on a much smaller scale than FDNY responders on 911, there are long-term effects. Many report off-season bronchitis, slow-healing burns, and prolonged coughing bouts. Just go to the doctor, right, on an average $14/hour?

Admittedly, some could probably afford to. A wild burn season is usually 6 months long, and with overtime they can make $30K. Most are moonlighters. 16-hour shifts and copping a few hours' sleep on the ground between those shifts come with the territory. Bodily resistance comes under massive assault.

I have to wonder how many wildburn personnel would do this in a better economy? is this job for them basic economic survival? how many are there because they're "safely" on a spouse's policy?

The Federal Office of Personnel Management said it is "looking into the insurance question." WTF--there should be no question. The ACA welcomes yet another group of deserving, under-served people.


http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20919090/wildland-...