Wildland Firefighter

This position is located within a National Forest. The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization. The purpose of the position is wildland fire suppression/management/control, as a firefighter on an engine, hotshot, helitack or hand crew.

Duties:

Serves as a senior firefighter on a hand crew. May perform the duties of a qualified faller, saw repair technician, or certified in the use of long line. May on occasion serve as driver of crew carrier. All drivers of crew carriers are required to meet state Department of Transportation licensing requirements. This license must be obtained prior to being assigned driver duties. Driver is subject the requirements of the Department of Transportation drug and alcohol testing program.

Serves as a senior firefighter on a Fire Engine. Serves as alternate to the Assistant Fire Engine Operator. May assist in performing work of starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles and nozzle adjustment in effective use of water and additives. Firefighter may have specialized duties such as water handling specialist, fully qualified faller, or responsible for maintenance of specialized equipment used to respond to wildland urban interface/intermix situations.

Serves as a senior firefighter on a helitack crew. Loads helicopter cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weight, etc., and completes manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work site. May exit helicopter in remote areas to construct helispots, or to attack small fires, hot spots and spot fires. Specialized firefighter may serve as certified rappeler or specialist in the operation and maintenance of accessory equipment. May serve as part of a short haul crew.

While on the fireline, employee will suppress the fire by moving dirt, chopping brush, felling trees. Build fire line using hand tools such as axe, Pulaski, shovel and McLeod, and power saws, to control spreading wildland fire until relieved or fire is suppressed. May perform various aviation and ground support activities, such as servicing and operating batch mixers, tanks, and related components including pumps, valves, and hoses. Conducts operations in the urban interface and/or point protection in remote settings as directed. May fill-in for other work leaders on established crews who are absent. May lead a squad (3-5) firefighters on a module in performing suppression duties on small or large fires. As work leader is responsible for showing new employees how the work is performed, for implementing quantity and quality goals on-the-job, for assuring that equipment and tools are available, and that work is performed in a safe manner. May inventory fuel beds, prepare associated reports, monitor burning conditions, pile logging debris and act in assigned positions during fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire. May perform project work and lead other workers in the same type of work which may include but is not limited to cleaning outdoor recreational facilities. mows grass and trims shrubs; perform trail maintenance and building maintenance duties; marks trees for timber harvesting in accordance with designated plan, checks seedling survival, and so forth.

Work schedule: Full-time. Travel Required: Occasional travel - Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.

Appointment type: Temporary. This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds. Expected start date: between April 18, 2027 to June 13, 2027.

Conditions of Employment: You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Must be 18 years of age. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination. This is a Test Designated Position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting. Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable). Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment. Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters. Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290).

How to Apply: You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents. Resumes must not exceed two pages. Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration. Agency Contact: HRM Contact Center, Phone 1-877-372-7248 X2, Email HRM_Contact_Center@usda.gov

Salary: $25 - $25 Per Hour

Application Deadline: 2026-11-12