DFPC WFMS Firefighter Temporary Aide: Crewmember

State of Colorado; Colorado; On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Temporary Aide Module Crewmember serves as part of a firefighting resource - suppression module, fuels module, helicopter module, or engine crew, to provide a wide range of firefighting and related services. As a crewmember, the primary purpose is to function as NWCG Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) in support of fire suppression operations and mitigation projects.

Training and PPE are provided by the agency. Positions may require long hours, travel and austere living conditions, with overtime

Qualifications

• Requires being available for assignments that may last for two weeks or longer in austere living and working conditions.
• Requires working long hours (up to 16 hours per day) in outdoor settings and performing strenuous manual labor under extreme environmental conditions.

Responsibilities

• Function as a NWCG Firefighter 2 (FFT2) in support of fire suppression operations and mitigation projects.
• Support suppression module, fuels module, helicopter module, or engine crew as assigned.
• Incidence response may require travel for two weeks or longer in austere living and working conditions.
• Provide safety inspections, maintenance of tools and equipment, and demobilization duties as trained.

Job description

Applications will be accepted from both Colorado residents and non-residents.

This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility list for current and future vacancies at the following location(s):

• Northeast District 1: Overland Module Temporary Aide - Windsor, CO
• Northeast District 1: James Peak Module Temporary Aide - Black Hawk, CO
• Northwest District 2: Shadow Mountain Module Temporary Aide - Granby, CO
• Southeast District 3: Tava Module Temporary Aide - Colorado Springs, CO
• Southeast District 3: Steel City Module Temporary Aide - Pueblo, CO
• Southwest District 4: Grizzly Peak Module Temporary Aide - Cortez, CO

Engine Location:

• Southwest District 4: Montrose Engine Crew Temporary Aide - Montrose, CO

Fuels Module Location:

• Northeast District 1: Lone Pine Fuels Module Temporary Aide - Windsor, CO

An eligibility list may be established with this recruitment and could be used to fill similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Please refer to DFPC Fire Management Regions and Staff Link for more information regarding district boundaries Fire Management Regions and Staff.

Our Mission - Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.

Our Vision - Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.

Our Core Values - Unity, Honor, Service

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is dedicated to non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

At CDPS, our culture is driven by our commitment to creating a safer Colorado and guided by a public service focus. We strive to provide effective solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans. We model a culture of collaboration, innovation, and growth for our employees. We maintain a professional and inclusive workplace.

Careers with a purpose:

If you are passionate about public safety and public service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, consider joining CDPS. Our team at CDPS consists of exceptional individuals and is an environment where you can challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career.

We are committed to providing public safety services to our communities including safety on our roads, preparing for and mitigating environmental disasters such as floods and wildland fires, disaster recovery, combating crime, promoting school safety, and victim services.

Classification and Salary:
temporary Aide
Anticipated Hiring Range: $22.00 - $25.00/hour

These are temporary positions (9 months or less) with a tentative 8 month schedule between March and November 2027, this will vary depending on location.

• Employees appointed in these positions are considered non-permanent employees in the Temporary Aide class series.
• Temporary aides are not eligible for benefits and paid leave (including holiday and/or administrative leave), except as required by law.
• Temporary aides will earn paid sick leave, accruing one (1) hour of sick leave for every thirty (30) hours worked (balance is capped at 48 hours).
• During time of employment, these positions will work at least 40 hours a week, and are eligible for paid overtime. Length of employment may be amended by DFPC (not to exceed 9 months), and school schedules may be accommodated.
• To meet response readiness needs, DFPC resources in a region may stagger their schedules for 7 day coverage. This will mean a normal 40 hour work week schedule could include weekend days, holidays, and extended shifts.
• Requires being available for assignments that may last for two weeks or longer in austere living and working conditions. Work schedules will be expected to be flexible and modified at times to fit the need.
• Requires working long hours (up to 16 hours per day) in outdoor settings and performing strenuous manual labor, under extreme environmental conditions.

Training and most personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided by the agency.

About the Work Unit

The Temporary Aide Module Crewmember serves as part of a firefighting resource - suppression module, fuels module, helicopter module, or engine crew, — to provide a wide range of firefighting and related services. As a crewmember, the primary purpose of this position is to function, at a minimum, as a NWCG Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) in support of fire suppression operations and mitigation projects (i.e. prescribed fire, hazardous fuel reduction, resource management).The position operates in alignment with DFPC’s core values of honor, integrity, service, and loyalty.

Module Crews regularly support diverse missions, including wildfire suppression response, mitigation projects (i.e. prescribed fire, hazardous fuel reduction, and resource management), and prevention and education. As assigned, equipped, and qualified, this position may assist with all-hazard incident operations such as search and rescue and other incident response. This role will assist with training programs, qualification and dispatch systems, and other preparedness activities in support of WFMS and DFPC.

Individuals assigned specifically to a Fuels Module perform all of the duties of a Firefighter, but their primary focus and majority of their time is spent on prescribed fire and fuels projects and/or facilitating work on the state owned Air Curtain Burner.

About the Position

Fire Suppression & Incident Response

• While providing for their individual safety, the employee works as a crewmember during fire suppression and incident response. Fire suppression and incident response work includes, but is not limited to:
• constructs fireline utilizing hand tools;
• cuts and clears vegetation utilizing power saws;
• performs structure protection;
• conducts mop up and patrol operations;
• assists with ignition operations;
• operates pumps;
• installs hose lays and water delivery systems;
• performs and assists with rescue operations;
• operates and travels in vehicles on and off-road;
• hauls and packs fire related equipment and supplies;
• uses various tools and equipment such as chainsaws, shovels, drip torches, fusees, pulaskis;
• uses various communication methods including radios;
• assists with safety inspections, maintaining and repairing of tools and equipment;
• assists and follows demobilizing duties, including required incident documentation.

Based on location and business needs, the position will perform non-wildfire and all-hazard incident response and support functions as trained, qualified, and equipped including, but not limited to: structure fire, hazmat, search and rescue, medical, etc.

Requires use of basic fire experience and knowledge, rudimentary skill in firefighting tasks, and the ability to recognize and communicate safety considerations and other factors (fire intensity, fuel conditions, weather observations, etc.) used by higher qualified firefighters in their decision making process. This knowledge, skill, and ability is shown by being qualified as a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Firefighter 2 (wildland)

Follows established processes and chain of command for collecting, producing, and distributing information.

As qualified on an incident, the employee may temporarily work as a Firefighter II

Incident response may require travel to active fires, severity assignments, and pre-position assignments throughout Colorado and across the nation.

Incident response may require travel in rotor and/or fixed-wing aircraft for detection, reconnaissance, coordination, command and control purposes prior to, during, and following wildland fire and all-hazard incidents.

Incident response may require crews to be assigned to an incident for two weeks or longer in austere living and working conditions.

Incident response may require working long hours (up to 16 hours per day) in outdoor settings and performing strenuous manual labor under extreme environmental conditions.

Work schedules will be expected to be flexible and modified at times to fit the business need based on fire conditions.

Work duties include participation in physical conditioning activities for up to one hour each day.