AUDIO: Here’s a riddle: When is a wildland firefighter not technically a firefighter? Answer: When he or she works for the federal government. That’s because the feds designate them as "forestry technicians." That irks many firefighters who put it all on the line as a changing climate means wildfire seasons are now longer and fires burn bigger and hotter. "Firefighters are called 'firefighters' by the press, the public and the politicians, most often when they die. They’re classified by the Office of Personnel Management as 'Forestry Technicians'." That’s Casey Judd, president of the Federal Wildland Fire Services Association. Judd and a handful of Idaho and Montana firefighters met with U.S. Sen. Steve Daines Friday at Missoula’s Neptune Aviation. They were there to discuss legislation the Montana Republican is poised to introduce when Congress reconvenes next week. One bill focuses on firefighter classification.