Wildland Firefighter

Forest Service • Avery, ID

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This temporary position is located on a fire crew within a National Forest fire management organization. The Wildland Firefighter serves as a specialized crew member responsible for wildland fire suppression, management, and control, including operating and maintaining specialized tools and equipment. The position may also support prescribed burns, forestry projects, and other natural-resource activities. Work may take place in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations, and occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or related assignments. The position is not eligible for telework. Appointment is for up to six months or, in some cases, up to one year, with a not-to-exceed date; an extension may be possible, and an appointment may end early because of lack of work or funding. The expected start date is between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027. Pay varies by location; the stated salary range uses the Rest of the U.S. locality rate.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet the applicable experience or education qualifications. The position requires passing the arduous-level Work Capacity Test and meeting Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty firefighting. The arduous pack test requires hiking three miles within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack. The role is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing, background investigation and/or fingerprint checks, and other appointment conditions. Depending on the position, additional conditions may include a valid state driver's license, a commercial driver's license, or a physical or medical examination. Employees must be willing to live or work in remote locations.

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 successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must satisfy background investigation and/or fingerprint-check adjudication requirements.
• Must enroll in direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must pass pre-employment drug testing and may be subject to random drug testing; appointment requires a negative result.
• Must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting.
• Must take and pass the arduous-level Work Capacity Test and maintain the required fitness level; the test requires hiking three miles within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack.
• Must be willing to live or work in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations.
• Must be available for occasional overnight travel for fire suppression or related assignments.
• GW-04 applicants must have six months of general work experience or military service demonstrating the ability to follow directions and read, understand, and retain instructions, regulations, and procedures, plus six months of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-03; alternatively, applicants may qualify through a two-year course of study in fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related field, or an appropriate combination of experience and education.
• Applicants must clearly document qualifying experience in their application and resume; transcripts must be provided when qualifying based on education.
• Some positions may require a valid state driver's license, a commercial driver's license, or a physical or medical examination.

Nice To Haves

• Successful completion of a two-year college course of study in fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related field may qualify at GW-04.
• Experience in natural-resource support work such as forestry, range, park technician work, wildland firefighting, or related work.
• Experience performing routine support assignments in a forestry specialty such as wilderness, timber, or fire prevention and control.
• Graduates of fire-certified Job Corps programs are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a skilled hand-crew member suppressing fires of varying difficulty and complexity.
• Use specialized tools, equipment, and techniques to suppress wildfires and control their spread, including tools such as a Pulaski, shovel, McLeod, ax, and chainsaw.
• Perform fireline activities, including constructing fireline, lopping and scattering fuels, holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up operations.
• Move dirt and chop brush and small trees to construct fireline.
• Follow wildland firefighting safety rules and practices and use techniques that minimize resource damage.
• Carry out specialized assignments, potentially including tree falling, backfire, and burnout, under direct supervision or with one or two other crew members.
• Serve on organized crews during prescribed burns by monitoring and controlling fire and collecting fire-weather and fire-behavior data.
• Perform forestry support and project work, including fuel inventories, hazard-fuel reduction, and associated reporting.
• Depending on experience, assist with structure-fire defense.
• Participate in fire and safety training, crew proficiency checks, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
• Operate and use tools, equipment, and vehicles safely and efficiently for fireline activities.
• Protect personal and crew safety and welfare throughout assignments.
• Clean, maintain, recondition, store, and inventory firefighting tools, equipment, and supplies.
• Potentially serve as a fire lookout, detect and report wildfires, and provide dispatchers with fire location, estimated size, weather, and behavior information.
• Potentially perform road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and miscellaneous equipment and facilities maintenance.
• Potentially assist higher-level workers with forestry or range research, marketing forest or range resources, or scientific management, protection, and development of those resources.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed