After two decades fighting wildfires across the American West, Jason Schroeder wanted out. He submitted his resignation following a brutal 2019 fire season. …Before Mr. Schroeder could quit his post, his longtime deputy and natural successor left. …He withdrew his resignation. …Alongside the increasing intensity of wildfires, a parallel crisis is unfolding: Federal firefighters are leaving the front lines in droves. This year’s fire season is nearing its end, and the career decisions this fall and winter of experts like Mr. Schroeder will help determine how prepared the country is to face the next season. …The overwork and resulting retention issues afflicting federal wildland firefighting is troubling, said Jeff Rupert, director of the Interior Department’s Office of Wildland Fire. …The U.S. needs to nearly double the roughly 15,000 federal firefighting personnel it has, estimates Riva Duncan. …Some relief would come in the infrastructure legislation that President Biden signed. [a WSJ subscription is required to access the full story]