Wildland Firefighter

Forest Service • Alpine, AZ

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located within a National Forest fire management organization and serves as a crewmember on a fire crew. The primary purpose is wildland fire suppression, management, and control, including responsibility for operating and maintaining specialized tools and equipment. The role also performs standardized forestry support duties for fire, timber, silviculture, recreation, wilderness, and research activities.

The position is temporary for the FY2027 hiring season, with an expected start date between April 18, 2027, and June 13, 2027. Appointments may last up to six months or, in some cases, up to a not-to-exceed period of one year. An extension may be possible; appointments may also end early due to lack of work or funds. The duty station will be one of the locations listed in the announcement. Pay varies by location, and the stated salary range is based on Rest of the U.S. locality rates. The position is not eligible for telework. Employees must be willing to live and work in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations, and occasional overnight travel may be required for fire assignments.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet the stated citizenship, background, and employment-verification conditions. The role is a Testing Designated Position subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Incumbents must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty and pass and maintain the arduous Work Capacity Test. The test requires hiking three miles within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees and their families access to a range of federal benefits. Benefit eligibility depends on the type of position and whether it is full-time, part-time, or intermittent; applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details. Government housing and federal day-care availability vary by location.

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 background investigation and/or fingerprint-check adjudication and E-Verify employment verification.
• Must enroll in direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must pass pre-employment drug testing and may be subject to random drug testing; appointment is contingent on a negative result.
• Must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting.
• Must pass and maintain the arduous-level Work Capacity Test: a three-mile hike within 45 minutes carrying a 45-pound pack.
• GW-04 qualification requires six months of general work experience or military service demonstrating ability to follow directions and understand and retain instructions, regulations, and procedures, plus six months of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-03; alternatively, a qualifying two-year course of study in fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related field, or an appropriate combination of education and experience.
• General experience may include farm or ranch labor, greenhouse, nursery or landscaping work, animal care, or volunteer work in settings such as parks, hospitals, sports leagues, or local fire departments.
• Specialized experience may include natural-resource support work such as forestry, range, park technician, wildland firefighting, or routine support assignments in a forestry specialty such as wilderness, timber, or fire prevention and control.
• Application and resume must demonstrate required experience; transcripts must be provided when qualifying based on education, with course descriptions as needed.
• Must be willing to live and work in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations; occasional overnight travel may be required.
• Some 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.
• Fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related two-year college course of study may qualify for GW-04.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a skilled hand-crew member suppressing fires of varying difficulty and complexity.
• Use specialized tools, equipment, and techniques—including a Pulaski, shovel, McLeod, ax, and chainsaw—to control wildfire spread.
• Perform fireline work including line construction, lopping and scattering fuels, holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up operations.
• Move dirt, chop brush and small trees, and perform other work to construct fire lines.
• Follow wildland firefighting safety rules and use practices that minimize resource damage.
• Carry out specialized assignments such as tree falling, backfire, and burnout under direct supervision or with one or two other crewmembers.
• Work on organized crews during prescribed burns by monitoring and controlling fire and collecting fire-weather and fire-behavior data.
• Perform project work such as fuel inventories, hazard-fuel reduction, road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and equipment or facilities maintenance.
• Depending on experience, perform structure-fire-defense assignments.
• Participate in fire and safety training, crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
• Protect personal and crew welfare and safety throughout assignments.
• Clean, maintain, recondition, store, and inventory firefighting tools, equipment, and supplies.
• When assigned to a fire lookout, detect and report wildfires and communicate location, estimated size, weather, and fire-behavior information to dispatchers or other officials.
• Prepare reports associated with project work such as fuel inventories.
• Assist higher-level workers with forestry or range research, resource marketing, or the scientific management, protection, and development of forest and range resources.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and work schedule.
• Government housing may be available depending on location.
• 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