Wildland Firefighter

Forest Service • Camp Verde, AZ

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located on a fire crew within the fire management organization of a National Forest. The primary purpose is to perform wildland firefighting work. The incumbent serves as a crew member suppressing fires of varying difficulty and complexity, carrying out fireline construction, hose and pump operations, mop-up, equipment maintenance, and other fire-related assignments. Depending on assignment and experience, duties may include engine operations, prescribed burns, fuels management, helitack work, structure-fire defense, and other natural-resource projects when not engaged in fire suppression.

The position requires following wildland firefighting safety practices, protecting resources, maintaining personal and crew safety, and participating in training, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques. It is a temporary position for the FY2027 hiring season, expected to start between April 18, 2027 and June 13, 2027, and may last up to six months or, in some cases, up to one year. The appointment may end early because of lack of work or funding, and an extension may be possible.

The work may involve remote and unpredictable locations and occasional overnight travel for fire suppression or related assignments. The employee must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty and pass and maintain the arduous Work Capacity Test. The position is not eligible for telework.

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 successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must be subject to satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to random drug testing; appointment depends on a negative result.
• Must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting and undergo 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 possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• For GW-04, must have six months of general work experience or military service demonstrating ability to follow directions, read, understand, and retain instructions, regulations, and procedures, plus six months of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-03; alternatively, successful completion of a two-year course of study in fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related field qualifies, or an appropriate combination of experience and education.
• Application and résumé must clearly document qualifying experience; transcripts must be submitted when qualifying based on education, with course descriptions as necessary.
• Must be willing to live and work in remote, volatile or unpredictable locations; occasional overnight travel may be required.
• Must follow wildland firefighting safety rules and maintain the required physical fitness level to remain in the position.

Nice To Haves

• Graduation from a Job Corps fire-certified program is encouraged.
• A commercial driver's license may be required for some fire positions.
• Experience or training in forestry, range, park work, wildland firefighting, fire prevention or control, wilderness, timber, or related natural-resource support work.
• A two-year course of study in fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of a fire crew suppressing wildland fires of varying difficulty and complexity.
• Construct fireline by moving dirt, chopping brush, and felling small trees with hand tools and power saws.
• Lay or direct hose, operate pumps and specialized fire-suppression equipment, and set backfires as directed.
• Patrol controlled fires and perform mop-up by locating and extinguishing remaining burning material.
• Fell trees or snags using power saws and perform other specialized assignments, such as tree falling, backfire and burnout, and mobile or stationary engine attack.
• Clean, recondition, maintain, store, and inventory firefighting tools, equipment, supplies, and accessories.
• Serve as a skilled crew member on an engine; as a trainee engine operator, 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; service and make minor repairs to engines, pumps, and related equipment, and make emergency pump repairs or adjustments.
• Inspect, clean, and stow hose; perform basic fireline activities including hose layout, pump and accessory operation, fuel lopping and scattering, holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up.
• Observe, record, and preserve evidence about the cause of fires.
• Participate in prescribed burns by monitoring and controlling fire and collecting fire-weather and fire-behavior data.
• Perform fuels management, fuel inventories, hazard-fuel reduction, and other resource-management or project work when not performing fire suppression.
• Depending on assignment and experience, perform structure-fire defense.
• Load helicopter cargo, prepare crew and equipment manifests, and perform helitack operations; may rappel from a hovering helicopter and construct helispots.
• Participate in firefighting and safety training, crew proficiency checks, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
• Follow wildland firefighting safety rules, protect natural resources from damage, and ensure the safety and welfare of self and others.

Benefits

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