Wildland Firefighter

Forest Service • Cascade, ID

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located on a fire crew within a National Forest fire management organization. The Wildland Firefighter serves as a crewmember responsible for wildland fire suppression, management, and control, including operating and maintaining specialized firefighting tools and equipment. The role also supports prescribed burns and a range of standardized forestry 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 one year, and may end early due to lack of work or funding. The role is not eligible for telework and may require working and living in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations, as well as occasional overnight travel for fire or fire-related assignments. Applicants must meet the arduous wildland firefighter medical and physical fitness requirements, including passing the arduous Work Capacity Test.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Must pass the E-Verify employment verification check and satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must enroll in direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must pass pre-employment drug testing with a negative result and is subject to ongoing random drug testing.
• Must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting and pass the arduous Work Capacity Test.
• The arduous Work Capacity Test requires completing a three-mile hike within 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack; required fitness must be maintained while in the position.
• For GW-04, must have six months of general work experience demonstrating the 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; alternatively, successful completion of a two-year course of study in fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related field, or an appropriate combination of experience and education, qualifies.
• General experience may include farm or ranch labor, greenhouse, nursery, or landscaping work, animal care, or volunteer work in settings such as parks or local fire departments.
• Specialized experience may include natural-resource support work such as forestry, range, park technician, or wildland firefighting work, or routine support assignments in a forestry specialty such as wilderness, timber, or fire prevention and control.
• Application and resume must clearly document qualifying experience; transcripts must be provided 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.
• Some fire positions may require a valid state driver's license, a commercial driver's license, or additional pre-appointment or random drug testing or physical or medical examinations.

Nice To Haves

• Graduation from a fire-certified Job Corps program is encouraged.
• A two-year course of study in fire training, fire science, fire technology, or a related field can qualify for GW-04.
• Experience in natural-resource support work, forestry, range, park technician work, wildland firefighting, or related forestry specialty assignments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a skilled hand-crew member suppressing fires across a range of difficulty and complexity.
• Use specialized tools, equipment, and techniques—including a Pulaski, shovel, McLeod, ax, and chainsaw—to control wildfire spread.
• Construct fireline; lop and scatter fuels; and perform holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up operations.
• Move dirt and chop brush or small trees to construct fireline while minimizing resource damage and following wildland firefighting safety rules.
• Carry out specialized assignments, potentially including tree falling, backfire, and burnout, under direct supervision or with one or two other crewmembers.
• Work on organized crews during prescribed burns, monitoring and controlling fire and collecting fire-weather and fire-behavior data.
• Perform fuel inventory and hazard-fuel-reduction projects, and, depending on experience, assist with structure-fire defense.
• Perform forestry support duties for fire, timber, silviculture, recreation, wilderness, or research activities.
• Participate in fire and safety training, crew proficiency checks, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques; safely operate tools, equipment, and vehicles used in fireline activities.
• Promote the safety and welfare of self and others during assignments.
• Clean, maintain, recondition, store, and inventory firefighting tools, equipment, and supplies.
• When assigned to a fire lookout, detect and report wildfires, provide the dispatcher with location and estimated size, and report weather and fire behavior conditions.
• Prepare reports associated with fuel inventory and hazard-fuel-reduction work; perform road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and miscellaneous equipment and facilities maintenance as assigned.
• Assist higher-level workers with forestry or range research, marketing forest or range resources, or the scientific management, protection, and development of those resources.

Benefits

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