Prescribed Fire Crewmember (FFT2) - Seasonal

Suffolk County Water Authority; New York (NY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Water Authority in New York is seeking candidates for a field-based role performing prescribed fire operations and fireline duties. You will work outdoors, carry gear, and coordinate safety with crew members while operating pumps and heavy equipment.

The position requires a high school diploma or higher in biology/forestry, NWCG training, and a valid driver’s license. Housing may be available for out-of-area candidates. Salary ranges from $26.00 to $28.00 per hour with no benefits.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or higher in Biology, Ecology, Forestry or related field.
• Meets NWCG S130 Firefighter Training/190 Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior.
• Ability to pass moderate or arduous physical capacity tests.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Experience with data monitoring and GIS tools.

Responsibilities

• Perform fireline duties on prescribed fire operations using hand tools and equipment.
• Carry supplies and operate heavy equipment in rugged terrain with exposure to heat and smoke.
• Coordinate safety and work assignments with crew members.
• Staging, inventorying, and operating pumps, fire engines, and other equipment.
• Assist with fire weather monitoring, vegetation management, and outreach programs.

Skills

Firefighting operations

Wildland fire behavior

GPS navigation

MS Office

Driver’s license

Team coordination

Safety compliance

Education

High School Diploma or higher in Biology/Ecology/Forestry

Tools

UTVs operation

Chainsaws training

ArcGIS / ArcGIS Pro

AVENZA maps

Google Earth

MS Office

Job description

Responsibilities Include:

• Performing fireline duties on prescribed fire operations including but not limited to using hand tools to construct fireline; ignite; patrol; mop-up and as necessary suppress wildland fires.
• Carrying supplies and using heavy equipment for extended hours in rugged terrain with exposure to excessive heat; direct and indirect flame; smoke; insects (especially ticks); and other irritants or hazards while performing fireline duties.
• Working in close coordination with other crew members including close verbal communications regarding safety and work assignments and activities.
• Staging, inventorying, maintaining, and operating or working in close coordination with mechanical fireline equipment such as pumps and other water delivery equipment, fire engines, ATVs, UTVs, dozers, excavators or other heavy equipment.
• Assisting with fire weather, fire behavior vegetation and invasive species monitoring and management in prescribed fire units including the installation and maintenance of fire breaks.
• Assisting with development of education and outreach programming including conducting wildfire risk assessments.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma (with experience in landscaping, agriculture, mechanics, heavy equipment use, forestry, arboriculture or other similar trade/interest) or associates, undergraduate, graduate student, recent graduate degree in Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Natural Science, or related field.
• Meets or exceeds Interagency Standards for Firefighting Operations as a Firefighter Type 2 (Successful completion National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) S130 Firefighter Training/190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior).
• Ability to pass moderate (carrying of 25lbs/2 miles in 30 minutes) or arduous (carrying of 45lbs/3 miles in 45 minutes; preferred) level work capacity test and be able to perform physical work in variable environmental conditions
• Experienced and qualified in the operation of UTVs with successful completion of UTV Operating Training Course (preferred) and operation of chainsaws with completion of training course (S212 preferred).
• Experience and knowledge in the monitoring of fire weather and behavior (preferred).
• Familiar with prescribed fire related data monitoring or similar natural resources data collection (i.e. fire weather, fire behavior).
• Field experience with general data collection, basic navigation skills and GPS.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Earth, and AVENZA maps or GIS such ArcGIS or ArcGIS Pro.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must adhere to SCWA and Commission policies and procedures and organizational structure.

*The Authority may accept an equivalent combination of education and experience to meet the requirements*

Salary is $26.00-$28.00/hour with no benefits.

Housing may be available for candidates outside of Long Island.

(The Authority shall not employ relatives of employees as defined to mean an employee's spouse, child, stepchild, stepparent or direct descendant of grandparents of the employee as defined in the New York State General Municipal Law 810.)