Wildland Firefighter (Hotshot) (Seasonal) - Direct Hire Authority

Office of the Secretary of the Interior • Sierra Vista, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service is hiring seasonal Wildland Firefighters for hotshot crews at the GW-03, GW-04, and GW-05 levels. Positions are available in Flowood, Mississippi; Sierra Vista, Arizona; and Zuni, New Mexico. Not all locations may hire at every grade, and applicants will only be considered for locations they select. Indian Preference applies only to the Zuni, New Mexico location.

Duties vary by grade. At GW-03, the employee serves as an entry-level hotshot crew firefighter, supporting fuels management and fire suppression under the direction of higher-graded firefighters. At GW-04, the employee serves as a trained firefighter and may perform specialized assignments, portable pump operations, radio communications, and operation of light vehicles or 4X4s. At GW-05, the employee serves as an experienced firefighter performing wildland and prescribed fire operations, fireline lookout and construction duties, fire behavior and hazard assessment, and resupply coordination.

These are temporary appointments limited to 1,039 hours during a service year. An extension to a maximum of 1,386 hours may be possible with future approval, but is not currently authorized or guaranteed. The work requires arduous physical exertion and takes place in forest, range, and desert environments, often in steep, uneven terrain and hazardous conditions. Employees may work extended periods in backcountry camps and may travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft. The position may involve on-call work, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work, particularly during fire season.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and suitable for Federal employment based on a background investigation.
• Must submit to and pass a pre-employment drug test; the position is also subject to random illegal-drug testing.
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination and the work capacity test for arduous positions; may be subject to post-employment medical examinations.
• Must be at least 18 years old to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• Must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license if required to operate a government or private motor vehicle for official duties.
• Must meet the minimum qualifications for the selected grade by 11/04/2026. GW-03: six months of general work experience or qualifying firefighter training, one year of related post-high-school education or training, or a combination. GW-04: six months of general work experience plus six months of specialized experience equivalent to GW/GS-03, a qualifying two-year post-high-school course of study, or a combination. GW-05: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GW/GS-04, a qualifying four-year bachelor's degree course of study, or a combination.
• GW-05 specialized experience includes on-the-line wildland fire control, prevention, or suppression as a skilled firefighter using specialized tools and equipment such as fireline radios, chainsaws, portable pumps, and hose lays.
• Applicants using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit transcripts. Foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. accredited education or receive full credit at an accredited U.S. institution.
• Must be registered for Selective Service if assigned male at birth after 12-31-59.
• Must provide direct deposit information.
• Must submit Form BIA-4432 if claiming Indian Preference; Indian Preference applies only to applicants for Zuni, New Mexico.
• May be required to complete training and obtain or maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment in hazardous work conditions.

Responsibilities

• Support fuels management and fire suppression by attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires, and building or patrolling firelines under direction of higher-graded firefighters.
• Assist with specialized assignments such as backfire, burnout, chainsaw operations, or tree felling, depending on grade and assignment.
• Perform portable pump operator duties, including pump-site selection, setup, and operation.
• Program and use handheld and mobile radios to maintain communications.
• Use specialized tools, equipment, and techniques while actively managing wildland fires; operate light vehicles and 4X4s when required.
• Perform prescribed and wildland fire operations, including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up.
• Serve as a lookout; locate fireline and carry out appropriate fireline construction, assess conditions, and identify escape routes and safety zones.
• Gather and consider weather, topography, fuel, and fire-behavior information when responding to wildland fire incidents.
• Refurbish and resupply tools, vehicles, food, water, and other supplies as assigned.
• Maintain fire tools and equipment, manage risks and hazards, and follow safety protocols.
• Participate in physical fitness programs.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a range of benefits; specific eligibility depends on position type, and applicants should contact the hiring agency for details.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed