Scenarios

Scenario 1: A member who earned service as a wildfire fighter but retires from the regular group

Robin joined the plan and worked as a wildfire fighter after April 1, 2026. All her service earned as a wildfire fighter was as part of the wildfire fighter public safety group. After a few years, she moved permanently to a different role within the public service, where she continued to contribute to the plan.

Robin earned both regular service and wildfire fighter service. Because she left the wildfire fighter public safety group and will eventually retire from a non–wildfire fighter role, she is not eligible for early retirement under the wildfire fighter public safety group. The earliest Robin can retire is age 55.

At age 55, Robin’s total pension will be calculated as the sum of two parts: the portion attributable to her regular service and the portion attributable to her wildfire fighter service. The portion of her pension calculated using her regular service will be reduced, but, because she has between 2 years and 35 years of contributory service, the portion of her pension calculated using her wildfire fighter service will be unreduced.

Member take-away: If you retire from a non–wildfire fighter role, the earliest age you can retire is 55, and the portion of your pension accrued under the wildfire fighter public safety group will be unreduced if you have at least two years of contributory service.

Scenario 2: A member who earned all their service as a wildfire fighter and retires from the wildfire fighter public safety group

Doug joined the plan as a wildfire fighter after April 1, 2026. Any service he earns as a wildfire fighter will be as part of the public safety group. He will have earned less than 35 years of contributory service when he retires.

Doug can begin collecting his pension as early as age 50, because his last plan employment was in a role within the wildfire fighter public safety group. However, because he has less than 35 years of contributory service, his pension will be reduced if he retires before age 55.

If Doug retires at age 55 or later, his pension will be unreduced.

Member take-away: If you end your plan employment in a wildfire fighter role, you can retire as early as age 50, but your pension will be reduced if you have less than 35 years of contributory service. If you retire at age 55, the portion of your pension accrued under the wildfire fighter public safety group will be unreduced if you have at least two years of contributory service.

Scenario 3: A member who earned service as a seasonal wildfire fighter and retires from the wildfire fighter public safety group

Izzy joined the plan before April 1, 2026, and works seasonally as a wildfire fighter. For the rest of the year, they work for a different employer and do not contribute to the plan.

Izzy worked as a wildfire fighter before and after April 1, 2026. Only the service Izzy earns after April 1, 2026, is as part of the wildfire fighter public safety group. Service earned as a wildfire fighter before April 1, 2026, will be treated as regular service.

Because Izzy has earned regular service and wildfire fighter service, their pension will be calculated using these different types of service. They can retire as early as age 50, but both the regular and wildfire fighter portions of their pension will be subject to reductions.

If they retire at age 55, the portion of their pension calculated using their wildfire fighter service will be unreduced if they have two years or more of contributory service, but the portion of their pension calculated using their regular service will have a reduction applied.

Member take-away: If you work as a wildfire fighter before and after April 1, 2026, your pension will be calculated using both regular service and service earned as part of the wildfire fighter public safety group. The pension calculated using your regular service may have a reduction applied even if the portion of your pension calculated using your wildfire fighter service is unreduced.