Wildland Firefighter

State of South Dakota • Rapid City, SD

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Wildland Firefighter is supervised by the Wildland Fire Crew Squad Leader and directs the activities of multiple firefighters. The role includes directing firefighting activities, organizing and overseeing projects and daily tasks, facilitating safety procedures and firefighter training, and performing logistical and administrative functions to support crew safety and well-being. The position helps maintain crew response preparedness and responds to incidents as needed. The firefighter assumes the full responsibilities of the Wildland Fire Squad Leader in that leader’s absence.

The work involves inherently dangerous fire-management situations, including unpredictable fire behavior and exposure to burns, smoke, dust, and extreme temperatures, compounded by protective gear. The firefighter works around operating heavy equipment and aircraft with limited visibility, traverses rough terrain, and performs continuous, strenuous physical labor with hand and power tools. The position requires living within one hour of the Rapid City Crew Office and successfully completing an annual arduous work-capacity test: walking three miles in under 45 minutes while carrying 45 pounds.

The position requires at least a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Firefighter Type 2 qualification and a current state driver’s license. The ideal candidate has NWCG qualifications FFT1, ICT5, and FAL2, along with knowledge of firefighting tools and equipment, equipment maintenance and safety, fuels, terrain, weather and fire behavior, Incident Command System practices, and UAS and helicopter safety. The candidate should be able to provide leadership and supervision for a squad of up to 10, manage fires and resources, interpret mobilization plans, perform low-complexity fireline chainsaw operations, maintain specialized firefighting equipment, navigate and interpret maps, make decisions using changing situational information, explain policies and procedures, deliver instruction, carry heavy loads over rough terrain, maintain fitness and qualifications, and communicate effectively.

Applicants must attach a current Fire Training and Qualification Master Record and current Incident Qualification Card (red card). A National Career Readiness Certificate may also be submitted if possessed, but it is not required. The successful applicant must undergo a background investigation and verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States using Form I-9; the state uses E-Verify. The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. Applications must be submitted online; emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

Requirements

• Minimum NWCG Firefighter Type 2 qualification.
• Current state driver’s license.
• Successful completion of the annual arduous work-capacity test: walk three miles carrying 45 pounds in under 45 minutes.
• Must live within one hour of the Rapid City Crew Office.
• Ability to work in hazardous fire-management conditions, around operating heavy equipment and aircraft, in limited visibility and rough terrain, and perform continuous strenuous physical labor.
• Ability to provide leadership and supervision for a diverse group of firefighters, including a squad of up to 10 as necessary.
• Ability to manage fire suppression, resources, strategies, and tactics.
• Ability to maintain and operate specialized firefighting equipment and radios.
• Ability to navigate with maps, compass, GPS, and other electronics and understand topographical features.
• Ability to make and adjust decisions as situational information changes.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain physical fitness and firefighting qualifications.
• Must attach a current Fire Training and Qualification Master Record and current Incident Qualification Card (red card).
• Successful applicant must undergo a background investigation and verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• NWCG qualifications FFT1, ICT5, and FAL2.
• Knowledge of power tools and equipment used in fire and emergency situations, such as chain saws, axes, shovels, and picks.
• Knowledge of equipment maintenance and safety practices.
• Knowledge of fuels, terrain, weather, and fire behavior.
• Knowledge of Incident Command System terminology, organization, and command structure.
• Knowledge of UAS and helicopter safety.
• A National Career Readiness Certificate may be submitted with the application but is not necessary to be considered.

Responsibilities

• Direct firefighting activities and the work of multiple firefighters.
• Organize and oversee projects and daily tasks.
• Facilitate safety procedures and employee/firefighter training.
• Perform logistical and administrative functions to support crew safety and well-being.
• Help maintain crew response preparedness and respond to incidents as needed.
• Assume the Wildland Fire Squad Leader’s full responsibilities when the leader is absent.
• Provide leadership, training, and daily supervision for a squad of up to 10 firefighters as necessary.
• Manage fires by organizing resources, selecting strategies and tactics, and overseeing suppression.
• Interpret and implement fire mobilization plans and locate personnel and equipment for fire suppression.
• Perform low-complexity fireline chainsaw operations, including tree felling, bucking, brushing, and limbing.
• Maintain and operate specialized firefighting equipment, including handheld and mobile radios.
• Navigate using electronic and paper maps, a compass, and GPS; interpret maps and topographical features.
• Use relevant situational information to make decisions and take appropriate actions as conditions change.
• Interpret and explain department policies and procedures, and present firefighting and fire-use instruction.
• Carry fuel, food, water, and tools over rough terrain to work sites.
• Maintain physical fitness standards and advance firefighting qualifications.

Benefits

• $0 premium employee health insurance option.
• Eleven paid holidays.
• Vacation and sick leave accrual.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Other insurance options.
• Retirement benefits; this position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

What This Job Offers

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