Wildland Firefighter (Prevention)

Forest Service•Westfir, OR

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located on a National Forest fire crew within the fire management organization and is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the unit’s Fire Prevention Program. The incumbent supports wildfire prevention planning and education, inspections and enforcement, fire detection and suppression, and fuel-treatment planning. The position is temporary for the FY2027 hiring season, with an expected start date between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027. It may last up to six months or, as a not-to-exceed appointment, up to one year; an extension may be possible. The appointment may end early due to lack of work or funds. The position is not eligible for telework, may be based at one of the listed duty locations, and may require living or working in remote, volatile or unpredictable locations and occasional overnight travel for fire assignments.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
Be at least 18 years old.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
Pass the required background investigation and/or fingerprint check and E-Verify employment verification.
Pass pre-employment and random drug testing; appointment is contingent on a negative pre-employment result.
Meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting and pass the appropriate Work Capacity Test level.
Be willing to live and work in remote, volatile or unpredictable locations; occasional overnight travel may be required.
Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-05 in federal service or equivalent, such as performing suppression operations and instructing others during initial attack or prescribed burns, providing formal and informal fire-prevention information, or issuing permits and ensuring compliance.
Education cannot substitute for the required GW-06 specialized experience.
Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.
A valid state driver's license, CDL, and additional physical or medical examinations may be conditions of employment for some fire positions.
Submit the required application documents and meet qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
Comply with applicable federal direct-deposit requirements.

Responsibilities

Provide input to fire-prevention plans and prescribed-burn plans.
Assist with establishing fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation.
Assist in planning, analyzing, coordinating, organizing, and developing comprehensive Wildfire Prevention Analysis Plans; gather, process, analyze, and interpret risk, hazard, and values information for those plans.
Plan cost-effective prevention programs within budget and assist with annual financial and budget plans.
Develop prevention and education opportunities and, when available, use WPSAPS to draft a District Prevention Plan.
Staff and carry out prevention activities and events; plan exhibits and events and organize group prevention and education contacts with local entities.
Work with state and federal agency personnel and local rural fire departments to deliver prevention and education messages.
Coordinate with law enforcement on state-law violations, juvenile fire-setter contacts, and other violations; analyze human-caused fires and determine prevention emphasis.
Prepare reports and gather information that may support apprehension and conviction of trespassers, arsonists, or other violators; potentially testify in court.
Give presentations and talks and recommend or prepare public service announcements with Forest staff assistance.
Enforce applicable Title 36 CFR regulations within Forest Service policy as a Forest Protection Officer; issue Notices of Violation and Incident Reports.
Coordinate and conduct fire-prevention inspections; advise Forest Service personnel and industrial operators on fire precautions, waivers, public-use restrictions, and substitute measures; identify corrective actions for hazardous conditions and fire-precaution violations.
Work with the COR or Sale Administrator during inspection processes.
Issue burning or campfire permits based on fire danger, monitor compliance, and maintain records.
Assist with prevention and education sign management, including inventory, ordering, maintenance, and coordination of sign posting.
Perform fire suppression operations when qualified; receive fire reports, plot locations, and initiate responses when assigned.
Maintain fire records and reports, including individual fire reports, fire resource orders, and incident action records; assist with fire detection as required.
Assist in gathering and analyzing information for fuel-treatment plans, potentially involving prescribed fire, timber sales, fuel modifications for defensible space, and fuel-break projects.