Wildland Firefighter

Forest Service•Adin, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This temporary position is located on a fire crew within a National Forest fire management organization. The firefighter supports wildland fire suppression, management, and control as a crewmember on an engine, hotshot, helitack, or hand crew. Work may also include other resource management activities, such as recreation, timber, or reforestation, when fire suppression and fuels-management duties are not being performed. The position is not eligible for telework and may involve work in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations. Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or related assignments. The temporary 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. An extension may be possible without further competition. 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 satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint adjudication and the E-Verify employment verification check.
Must use 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 and pass the appropriate Work Capacity Test level. The arduous pack test requires hiking three miles within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack, and must be maintained as a condition of employment.
Must be willing to live and work in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations; occasional overnight travel may be required.
For GW-03: At least six months of experience of any type demonstrating the ability to perform the work or familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the occupation; alternatively, one year of related education or appropriate firefighting training may substitute month for month. Firefighting training obtained as part of a high school curriculum may substitute for the six months of general experience.
General experience may include farm or ranch labor, greenhouse or nursery work, animal care, or other paid or unpaid work, including qualifying volunteer experience.
Some fire positions may require a valid state driver's license, a commercial driver's license, or a physical or medical examination.

Nice To Haves

Graduates of Job Corps fire-certified programs are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Develop knowledge of fuels management and fire-suppression techniques and practices, including fireline construction and the use of pumps, engines, hose lays, foam, and retardant.
Develop knowledge of working around aircraft, safety rules, and fire and fuels terminology.
Locate and extinguish burning materials by moving dirt and applying water with hoses or backpack pumps.
Move dirt, chop brush, and fell trees to construct fireline and control wildland fire, and prepare lines before prescribed burning.
Use hand tools and power saws to perform fireline and fuels-management work.
Chop, carry, and pile logging slash.
Patrol firelines to find and extinguish sparks, flareups, and hot spots that may threaten established firelines.
Clean, recondition, and store fire tools and equipment.
Perform other resource-management activities, such as recreation, timber, or reforestation, when not assigned to fire suppression or fuels-management duties.