Wildland Firefighter (Helitack)

Forest Service•Payson, AZ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This temporary position is on a National Forest helitack crew within the fire management organization. The firefighter performs wildland fire suppression, management, and control as a specialized crewmember responsible for operating and maintaining specialized tools and equipment. The position may also perform fuels management, prescribed-fire support, forestry or range-related work, and other project work. Work may take place in remote locations and under adverse climate, fuel, and terrain conditions. The appointment is for up to six months or, in some cases, up to one year, and may end early due to lack of work or funds. The expected start date is between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
Must pass background investigation and/or fingerprint check and E-Verify employment verification.
Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
Must pass pre-employment drug testing and may be subject to random drug testing.
Must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty firefighting and pass the required medical screening.
Must pass and maintain the arduous-level Work Capacity Test: hike three miles within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack.
Must have completed the NWCG Primary Core Requirement of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1).
Must have completed the NWCG Secondary Core Requirement of Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290).
For GW-05 qualification, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-04, a qualifying four-year college course of study in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must provide documentation of required Incident Qualification and Certification System records or equivalent training documents; red cards are not accepted as documentation.
Must be willing to live or work in remote locations.
Occasional overnight travel may be required.
Some positions may require a valid state driver's license, a commercial driver's license, and/or additional physical or medical examinations.
Must provide required application documents and meet qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

Perform recurring fire suppression duties as a senior firefighter on a helitack crew.
Load helicopter personnel and cargo, consider weight distribution and securing needs, and complete transportation manifests.
Inventory and inspect helicopter accessories, fire tools, and equipment; ensure needed equipment is available for firefighting tasks.
May exit helicopters in remote areas to construct helispots or attack small fires, hotspots, and spot fires.
Gather and consider weather, topography, fuel-type, and fire-behavior information when responding to incidents.
Recommend approaches for positioning and deploying personnel and equipment to protect values at risk.
Operate and maintain specialized equipment used for wildland and prescribed-fire response, and make emergency repairs when needed.
Take aggressive fire-control action using other means when equipment cannot be used effectively.
Participate in wildland-fire and safety training, crew proficiency checks, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
Use tools, equipment, and vehicles safely and efficiently in fireline activities.
Protect personal and crew welfare and safety throughout assignments.
Perform fire suppression and fuels-management duties in difficult climate, fuel, and terrain conditions.
May inventory fuel beds, prepare reports, conduct hazard-fuel reduction, monitor burning conditions, and pile vegetation debris.
May serve in assigned prescribed-fire roles, such as ignition or holding specialist.
May perform road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and equipment or facilities maintenance.
May assist with forestry or range research, resource marketing, or the management, protection, and development of forest or range resources.
May fill in for other work leaders on established crews.