Federal firefighters start cleanup business during government shutdown

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Twenty civilian firefighters at Fairchild Air Force Base have worked for weeks without paychecks during the ongoing government shutdown, prompting them to launch their own fall cleanup business to support their families.

Kris Maynard, one of the affected civilian firefighters, said the financial strain affects every aspect of their lives while military firefighters at the base continue receiving regular pay.

“Unfortunately by that question I get this chill within my body, because of the impact it has had within our families, within our department,” Maynard said when asked about working without compensation. “It impacts everything.”

The civilian firefighters face mounting expenses including mortgages, gas and food costs. While federal law requires furloughed workers to receive back pay once the government reopens, that doesn’t address their immediate financial needs.

Rather than wait for the shutdown to end, the firefighters created a fall cleanup service that offers leaf removal, gutter cleaning, debris hauling and small yard work projects.

“I’d like to think that we have the best of team, and now we want to take that team outside of our federal place and provide it to our community,” Maynard said.

Military firefighters from the base plan to volunteer their time to assist with cleanup projects. All proceeds will go directly to the civilian firefighters, with any surplus funds donated to organizations that have provided assistance during the shutdown.

The firefighters hope their teamwork and service experience will translate into quality work for community members who hire their services.

“We’re trying to do as a team is to be able to provide for our firefighters. So they can maintain a daily living that they’ve had for the last months, years, however long they’ve been with us,” Maynard said.

Community members can book cleanup services by calling 509-435-2347 or by emailing at kris@mrespokane.com