Forestry Technician (Lookout)

Forest Service • Camp Verde, AZ

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This temporary position is located within a National Forest and provides fire detection services to district fire suppression personnel. The Forestry Technician observes and locates smoke and fires, reports fire and weather conditions, maintains lookout station equipment and records, and operates radio communications connecting lookout stations, agencies, and interagency dispatch centers. The position also supports fire prevention by interacting with visitors, explaining applicable laws and safety practices, issuing campfire permits, and maintaining prevention signs. The technician patrols the district one day per week and reviews and processes documents and reports, entering information into an automated tracking system.

The position is based at a lookout station and requires willingness to live and work in remote locations that may be volatile or unpredictable. It is temporary, with an appointment of up to six months or, in some cases, up to one year; an extension may be possible. The appointment may end early because of lack of work or funds. The expected start date is between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027. The position is not eligible for telework.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Must pass the required background investigation and/or fingerprint check and E-Verify employment verification.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must be willing to live and work in remote, volatile or unpredictable locations.
• For GS-05, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-04; or qualifying education; or an eligible combination of education and specialized experience.
• Qualifying education may be a bachelor's degree or four years of successfully completed post-high-school education in a directly related field, or qualifying coursework that includes at least 24 semester hours in specified natural-resource-related subjects, subject to the stated mathematics limitation.
• Specialized experience may include maintaining records, log books, lookout equipment, and lookout station grounds; relaying fire and administrative information; keeping dispatchers or fire officials informed of current conditions; and explaining fire-prevention laws, policies, and regulations to visitors.
• Application and resume must clearly document qualifying experience; transcripts are required when qualifying based on education, and course descriptions may be requested.
• Must meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

• Use fire finders, a compass, binoculars, protractors, geographic maps, and specialized equipment to locate smoke and plot fire locations.
• Estimate the distance to smoke and the probable size and characteristics of fires.
• Report fire azimuth, distance, location, smoke volume, color, behavior, and other relevant information by radio.
• Continue observing fire areas and report significant changes, including smoke, wind, and other conditions, to dispatch.
• Interpret fire-weather data using weather instruments and advise fire suppression personnel of changing conditions.
• Use radio communications to warn responding personnel of changes that may affect them.
• Observe ground lightning strikes, report resultant fires, and record storm paths to support observation for holdover fires.
• Record and report daily weather observations and maintain photo records and log books identifying smoke-plume sources and duration.
• Make minor adjustments to and maintain lookout equipment; keep the station and grounds neat and orderly.
• Operate a radio communications center connecting lookout stations, lookouts, agencies, and interagency dispatch centers.
• Receive and relay information about weather forecasts, fire hazards, emergencies, accidents, and work crew and personnel locations.
• Communicate known lightning-strike and fire locations to aircraft during reconnaissance activities.
• Serve as a key contact for visitors at the lookout station during fire season.
• Promote fire prevention by explaining laws, policies, regulations, prevention methods, procedures, and fire hazard conditions.
• Patrol the district one day per week, maintain and replace prevention signs as needed, issue campfire permits, and explain state and federal laws to visitors.
• Review documents and reports for completeness, conduct database searches, and process records according to established procedures.
• Enter pertinent information into an automated tracking system.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific eligibility depends on appointment type and whether the position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level