Firefighter Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a valid driver's license and maintain it.
• Must pass the appropriate Work Capacity Test at the arduous level and maintain the required fitness level; the test requires a three-mile hike within 45 minutes carrying a 45-pound pack.
• Must meet Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous-duty wildland firefighting and pass medical screening.
• Must submit to pre-employment and random drug testing; appointment is contingent on a negative pre-employment result.
• Must satisfy background investigation and/or fingerprint-check adjudication requirements.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must be willing to live and work in remote, volatile, or unpredictable locations and accept occasional overnight travel for fire-related assignments.
• For GW-04 qualification, must have 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 GW-03; alternatively, successful completion of a two-year course of study in an accredited college or university in Fire Training, Fire Science, Fire Technology, or a related field; or an appropriate combination of experience and education.
• Application and resume must clearly document qualifying experience; transcripts are required when qualifying based on education.
• Must be registered for Selective Service or exempt if a male born after December 31, 1959.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must observe wildland firefighting safety practices and ensure the welfare and safety of self and others.

Nice To Haves

• Graduation from a Job Corps fire-certified program is encouraged.
• A commercial driver's license (CDL) may be required for some fire positions.
• Experience in forestry, range, park work, wildland firefighting, or related natural-resource support work is relevant specialized experience.
• Experience with farm or ranch labor, landscaping, greenhouse or nursery work, animal care, or volunteer work may contribute to general experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of a fire crew suppressing fires across a range of 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 portable pumps and drip torches, and assist with water-based fire suppression.
• Fell trees or snags using power saws and, when assigned, set backfires and conduct burnouts.
• Patrol controlled fires, conduct mop-up, and extinguish remaining burning material.
• Clean, recondition, maintain, inventory, and store fire tools, equipment, and supplies.
• Observe, record, and preserve evidence related to the cause of fires.
• Perform other resource-management work when not assigned to fire suppression, including fuels, recreation, timber, reforestation, fuel inventory, and hazard-fuel reduction projects.
• Serve as a skilled crewmember on a fire engine and, as a trainee engine operator, drive the engine, operate the pump, and make hose lays under the direction of the engine Captain.
• Position fire engines or apparatus for safe and efficient operation; inspect, service, and make minor repairs to engines and related accessories.
• Inspect, clean, and stow hose; make emergency pump repairs and adjustments while equipment is in use.
• Perform basic fireline work, including line construction, hose layout, pump and accessory operation, fuel lopping and scattering, holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up.
• Follow wildland firefighting safety rules and apply practices that minimize resource damage.
• Carry out specialized assignments, independently or with a small crew, such as tree falling, backfires, burnouts, mobile or stationary engine attack, and helispot construction.
• Monitor and control prescribed burns and collect fire-weather and fire-behavior data.
• Load helicopter cargo and complete manifests for crews and equipment; perform assigned rappelling, helitack, and longline operations.
• Participate in fire and safety training, crew proficiency checks, drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
• Protect personal and crew safety during assignments.
• Perform structure fire defense when assigned, depending on experience level.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and the hiring agency.
• Government housing and federal day care facilities may be available depending on location.