Forest Health Engine Captain, Wildland Fire Management Supervisor (WFMSup)
State of Washington
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources Northeast Region seeks two Forest Health Engine Captains (Wildland Fire Management Supervisors) to support forest health and wildfire operations in the Arcadia District.
These project-year roles will supervise a fuels-reduction crew and, during fire season, serve as Engine Captain on a Type 5 brush engine, coordinating with interagency partners and ensuring crew safety.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- NWCG qualified as: Single Resource Boss (any) and Incident Commander Type 5.
- Supervisory experience.
- Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and GPS.
- Experience with Fire Effects and Fire Fuel Reduction, Smoke Management, and related programs.
Responsibilities
- supervise River City Fuels Crew (22-person) and lead ground crews.
- act as Engine Captain during fire season on a Type 5 brush Engine.
- ensure crew safety and monitor production against deadlines.
- coordinate with forester/project manager and agency partners.
- support wildfire prevention messaging and Fire Ready Neighbor initiatives.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Recruitment #2026-9-P453/P454
Full-time, Project, Represented position (WPEA)
Anticipated Project employment is October 2026 - March 2029
Location: Northeast Region- Deer Park, WA
Work Hours flexibility may be available and considered
Salary: $4,201.00 - $5,642.00 Monthly
Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 10/5/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.
The Northeast Region of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is actively seeking two (2) Forest Health Engine Captains (Wildland Fire Management Supervisors) to support the goals and mission statement of the Department. The DNR is responsible for protecting over 13 million acres of both state- and privately-owned lands. Working with interagency partners, DNR embraces an all-hands, all lands vision. DNR serves the communities of Washington and is a strong advocate of wildland fire prevention, suppression, and mitigation. During the non-fire season months of the year, this position will be a supervisor on the newly created River City Fuels Crew. During the fire season, this position will act as an Engine Captain conducting initial attack wildfire suppression.
The Arcadia District is responsible for forest health, wildfire suppression, prevention education, and regulation on all or parts of four counties (Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, and Lincoln), including one hundred thousand acres of state trust land. The Arcadia District conducts suppression actions on approximately 300 fire starts annually, processes approximately 400 burn permit requests, and provides training courses to our local cooperators. A large part of the Arcadia District is located in the Wildland Urban Interface of the greater Spokane area, where the primary focus on hazardous fuels reduction takes place and the heaviest loading of initial attack wildfire incidents. Interagency cooperation occurs on the majority of fuels project sites, wildland fires, and most training courses. Interagency cooperation includes working with local fire districts, state and federal partners, and is a key function of the position.
The Forest Health Engine Captains will be expected to excel at two separate jobs over the course of the project duration, depending on the time of year, and will be under the guidance of a Wildland Fire Management Specialist (Assistant Fire Management Officer). One of these responsibilities will be operating as a supervisor for the River City Fuels Crew, a 22-person fuels reduction crew following specific prescriptions to implement forest health plans for priority sites around the District. This will include supervising one Wildland Fire Management Lead and up to four Wildland Fire Management Technicians. This position will be the primary leadership on the ground at the project sites and is responsible for assessing and monitoring the safety of the crew members while also comparing crew production output to project deadlines.
This position will be making recommendations on fuels reduction strategies and then driving the completion of the prescriptions while ensuring the guidance of the forester or project manager is being adhered to. The Forest Health Engine Captain will be operating alongside agency partners and is a critical part of the professional representation of the Arcadia District.
The fuels reduction crew will be implementing wildland hazardous fuels mitigation projects. These critical services protect public resources, natural resources, and public safety. The fuels reduction projects will help the agency implement Goal 1 of the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan, Eastern Washington, by directly providing scientifically sound, landscape-scale cross-boundary management and restoration treatments in priority watersheds to increase forest and watershed resilience. The treatment projects include non-commercial tree thinning using chain saws, tree pruning, and slash abatement. Slash abatement can be performed using prescribed fire, chipping, or windrowing for mechanical mastication.
During the fire season, the Forest Health Engine Captains will be operating as a Wildland Firefighting Engine Captain on a Type 5 brush Engine in the Arcadia District, supervising up to 4 Wildland Firefighters, and responsible for responding to wildfire incidents in a safe and efficient manner. This will include operating in NWCG Wildland Fire positions such as Incident Commander, Engine Boss, Heavy Equipment Boss, Wildland Fire Investigator, and more depending on the scale and needs of the incident.
When not on wildfire incidents, these positions are responsible for creating daily schedules for the firefighters on their Engine, which may include training, studying, or checking previous incidents. The Engine will be expected to be competent and professional while on and off the fire line. The Forest Health Engine Captain will also play a hand in our prevention messaging and support the Department's Wildfire Ready Neighbor program, where they will be expected to be subject matter experts on wildfire home defense and hardening.
The Arcadia District is a fast-paced and complex work environment that places an emphasis on building culture that requires an individual who will work within the team goals and dynamics to be successful. The individuals selected for these positions would be employed year-round, completing fuels reduction work in the winters and engaged in fire suppression in the summers.
You must meet all the Required Qualifications and Competencies to be considered for this position. There are multiple pathways to meet qualifications, such as education, volunteer work, life skills, and experience. Please clearly communicate in your application material that your skills align with the position and qualifications.
- High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- NWCG qualified as:
- Single Resource Boss (any)
- Incident Commander Type 5
- Supervisory experience.
- Experience with computer applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and GPS.
- Experience with:
- Fire Effects and Fire Fuel Reduction
- Smoke Management
- Regulatory Education
- Fire Regulatory and Enforcement
- Fire Prevention Programs
- Fire Suppression
- Silvicultural techniques to improve forest health
- Good writing and verbal communication skills and ability to work with the public, sometimes under stressful conditions.
- Ability to act promptly and use good judgment in emergencies.
- Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
- Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention, and ensure requests are followed.
- DNR Core Competencies:
- Personal Accountability
- Value Others
- Compassionate Communication
- Inspire Others
- Commitment to Excellence
- Must annually pass the arduous level work capacity test.
- This position is a field position (80%). The fire suppression and prescribed fire work is strenuous outdoor work in all weather conditions. Must be able to traverse uneven and mountainous terrain, e.g., very steep terrain; rocky, loose, or muddy ground surfaces; thick vegetation; down/standing trees; wet leaves/grass; varied climates (cold, hot, wet, dry, humid, snow, rain; high altitudes; heights; holes and drop-offs; very rough roads; open bodies of water; isolated/remote sites. Might need to work in close quarters, with limited/disrupted sleep.
- This position will be assigned an agency vehicle. Position requires significant driving and field visits within the assigned area.
- A current, valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience. Additionally, DNR requires state drivers to possess a license that is not suspended, revoked, or restricted (for example, Occupational/Restricted Driver Licenses or requiring ignition interlock devices). This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, Natural Resources, Forestry, or related field OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
- NWCG Qualifications:
- Incident Commander Type 4
- Strike Team Leader or Task Force Leader
- Wildland Fire Investigator
- Multiple Single Resource Boss qualifications
- Prescribed Fire Burn Boss 2 (RXB2)
- Fire Effects Monitoring (FEMO)
- Firing Boss (FIRB)
- Experience with:
- Prescribed Fire Operations
- Burn Plan Writing
- DNR Burn Permit Regulations
- Silvicultural techniques to improve habitat for fish and wildlife
- Monitoring and/or data collection for fire effects, forest insects and disease, and/or forest health conditions.
- Knowledge of the application: Survey 1-2-3.
At DNR, we value diversity and inclusion and are committed to hiring the best candidate for the job. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have any questions about the qualifications, please email us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.
Failure to provide the listed documents may result in disqualification. If you have questions or difficulty attaching these documents, please contact DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.
Please contact Daniel Stralser at daniel.stralser@dnr.wa.gov/509-675-2586 or Daryl Schie at daryl.schie@dnr.wa.gov/509-680-8093, or email us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.
Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 522-2500 or email DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
At DNR, we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Our actions ensure a future where Washington’s lands, waters, and communities thrive.
Manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs of present and future generations.
- Safety and Well-Being —Our top priority is the safety of the public and our employees.
- Public Service —We value and respect the public we serve, and we value and respect the people of the Department of Natural Resources who step up to serve.
- Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving — We solve our state’s most pressing challenges through innovative thinking, dedication, and bold and creative vision.
- Leadership and Teamwork —We are committed to building leaders at all levels and building teams for success.
- Commitment to organizational health and wellness
- Work/life balance
- DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
- Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups, visit here to learn more
- Leadership that empowers and supports employees
- Professional development opportunities
- Educational and career development aid
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
- Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
- A comprehensive benefits package includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave, and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.
This recruitment may be extended and used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty (60) days.
DNR does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
Veterans wishing to claim Veteran’s preference, please attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or a USDVA signed verification of service letter. Please black out all PII (personally identifiable information) data, such as Social Security numbers. We thank you and are grateful for your service!
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, call 360-664-1960 or 1-877-664-1960 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov.
Check us out on: DNR’s website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | WordPress
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