Wildland Firefighter

U.S. Forest Service; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 49,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Forest Service seeks a Firefighter to join a national forest fire crew. The role focuses on wildland fire suppression and management, serving as a firefighter on engines, hotshots, helitack, or hand crews.

Duties cover fireline construction, equipment use, and fuels management in challenging, remote locations. Candidates must meet federal requirements, pass medical and drug tests where applicable, and be willing to work overtime and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizen or US national, as required by federal employment.
• Minimum age 18.
• Direct Deposit required for federal payments.
• Pass background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Some positions may require a valid state CDL or other medical/drug-screening requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop knowledge of fuels management and fire suppression techniques.
• Learn fireline construction, pump/engine operations, hose lays, foam and retardant.
• Work around aircraft and adhere to safety rules and fire terminology.
• Extinguish fires by directing water with hoses and pumps.
• Construct firelines using hand tools (axe, shovel, Pulaski, McLeod, power saws).
• Chop, carry, and pile logging slash.
• Patrol firelines to locate and extinguish sparks and hot spots.
• Maintain and store fire tools and equipment.
• Assist with other resource management activities when not on fire duties.

Education

Job Corps fire certification program

Job description

Summary

Job Corps graduates of fire certified programs are encouraged to apply. 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.

Major Duties

• Performs assignments to develop knowledge of fuels management and fire suppression techniques and practices such as fireline construction, use of pumps and engines, hose lays, foam and retardant.
• Performs assignments to develop knowledge of working around aircraft, safety rules, and fire and fuels terminology.
• Searches out and extinguishes burning materials by moving dirt, applying water by hose or backpack pump, etc.
• Moves dirt, chops brush, or fells trees to build fireline using various hand tools such as axe, shovel, Pulaski, McLeod and power saws to control spreading wildland fire and to prepare lines prior to prescribed burning.
• Chops, carries and piles logging slash.
• Patrols the fireline to locate and extinguish sparks, flareups, and hot spot fires that may threaten developed firelines.
• Cleans, reconditions and stores fire tools and equipment.
• May be assigned to other resource management activities such as recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fire suppression or fuels management duties.

Requirements

• 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.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.gov.
• 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.
• This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
• 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.

Evaluations

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the selecting official. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Other Information

PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2027 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between April 18, 2027 to June 13, 2027. By selecting the "Location Negotiable" option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

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.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement.

Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement.

Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay.

This position is not eligible for telework. Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.