U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) has explained why two firefighters were arrested while battling the Bear Gulch fire burning in the Olympic National Forest.

In a statement, the agency said its agents were called in to assist after another federal agency—the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—conducted a criminal investigation, and then canceled its contracts with two companies that were assisting in the firefight: Table Rock Forestry Inc. and ASI Arden Solutions Inc.

BLM asked Border Patrol to confirm the identities of 44 members of the fire crews. Agents determined that two were in the U.S. illegally. One had a previous order for removal. Both were arrested and transported to the Bellingham Station.

“U.S. Border Patrol steadfastly enforces the laws of the United States and unapologetically addre

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