Wildland Firefighter

Forest Service • Avery, ID

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located on a fire crew within a National Forest fire management organization. The primary purpose is to perform wildland firefighting work, including fire suppression, engine crew duties, prescribed burning, fuels management, and related resource management projects. The position may involve work in remote, volatile, and unpredictable locations, occasional overnight travel, and assignments requiring arduous physical activity. The appointment is temporary for up to six months or, as specified, up to a not-to-exceed period of one year; it may end early due to lack of work or funds, and an extension may be possible without further competition. The expected start date is between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027.

As a crew member, the incumbent suppresses fires of varying difficulty, constructs fireline with hand and power tools, uses hose and water, operates suppression equipment, conducts mop-up and patrol, and cleans and maintains tools and equipment. Engine duties may include trainee operation of an engine, driving and positioning apparatus, operating pumps, laying hose, and inspecting, servicing, and making minor repairs to the engine and its accessories under the direction of the engine Captain.

Other assignments may include prescribed burns, fuel inventory and hazard-fuel reduction, resource management work, tree falling, backfires and burnouts, helispot construction, helitack operations, helicopter cargo loading and manifesting, and—in some cases—structure fire defense. The incumbent participates in training, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques; follows wildland firefighting safety practices; and is responsible for their own and others’ safety. 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.
• Must pass the appropriate Work Capacity Test at the arduous level and maintain the required physical fitness; the test requires hiking three miles within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack.
• Must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting and is subject to medical screening.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Must be willing to live and work in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations and undertake occasional overnight travel for fire assignments.
• Must pass pre-employment drug testing and is subject to ongoing random drug testing.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification and satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• For GW-04, must have six months of general work experience or military service demonstrating 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; OR successful completion of a two-year college or university course of study in Fire Training, Fire Science, Fire Technology, or a related field; OR an appropriate combination of experience and education.
• Experience may include qualifying paid or unpaid work, including volunteer service. Applicants qualifying based on education must provide transcripts.
• Some fire positions may additionally require a valid state driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, pre-appointment and random drug testing, or a physical or medical examination.
• Must observe wildland firefighting safety rules and apply practices and techniques to minimize resource damage.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of a fire crew to suppress wildland fires of varying difficulty and complexity.
• Construct fireline by moving dirt, chopping brush, felling small trees, and using hand tools and power saws.
• Lay or direct hose, use water, operate pumps and other specialized suppression equipment, and set backfires as directed.
• Patrol controlled fire areas and conduct mop-up by locating and extinguishing remaining burning material.
• Operate as a skilled crew member on a wildland fire engine; as a trainee, drive the engine, operate the pump, and make hose lays under the engine Captain’s direction.
• Position fire engines or apparatus for safe and efficient operation; inspect, service, clean, and make minor repairs to engines, pumps, accessories, and hose.
• Perform basic fireline activities, including line construction, hose layout, pump operation, fuel lopping and scattering, holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up.
• Observe and preserve evidence concerning fire causes.
• Participate in prescribed burns by monitoring and controlling fire and collecting fire-weather and fire-behavior data.
• Perform fuels management, fuel inventory, hazard-fuel reduction, and other assigned resource management projects, which may include recreation, timber, or reforestation work.
• Carry out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfires and burnouts, mobile or stationary engine attack, helispot construction, and helitack or longline operations.
• Load helicopter cargo and prepare manifests for crews and equipment; rappel from a hovering helicopter when assigned.
• Participate in fire and safety training, crew proficiency checks, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
• Follow wildland firefighting safety practices and protect personal and crew safety and natural resources.
• Clean, maintain, recondition, store, and inventory firefighting tools, equipment, and supplies.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type and the hiring agency.
• Government housing and federal day care facilities may be available depending on location.

What This Job Offers

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