Seasonal Wildland Firefighter

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

CalPERS eligibility after 1000 hours

Training opportunities and safety cert

Job summary

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is seeking Seasonal Wildland Firefighters on a temporary basis to protect parkland and resources in greater Los Angeles and beyond. The role includes fire protection, maintenance, public information, and emergency response, with potential 21‑day assignments anywhere in California.

The ideal candidate can work independently or in a team, handle diverse tasks, and will undergo MRCA Wildland Academy and related safety trainings.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Willing to complete MRCA Wildland Academy to become NWCG FFT2 (T) and attend safety trainings.

Responsibilities

• Perform weed abatement and infrastructure maintenance to reduce fire hazards.
• Provide information to park visitors and lead interpretive activities.
• Respond to emergency situations to protect life and property in park areas.
• Direct and coordinate with volunteer groups and public partners.
• Operate firefighting and maintenance equipment as required.

Skills

English fluency

Communication

Physical stamina

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Office 365

Job description

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is recruiting for Seasonal Wildland Firefighters on a temporary basis to protect agency parkland and resources and performs a wide variety of skilled park construction, maintenance, and patrol work; assists the public in natural resources interpretation and information; provides fire protection, suppression, vehicle and equipment maintenance. To protect visitors, park land and infrastructures and to insure a safe and peaceful environment for public usage.

This position requires a highly motivated, responsible, organized and self-starter individual who can handle an array of tasks, has good judgement in making decisions, and can work independently or as part of a team. The individual must be able to demonstrate common sense when working on tasks, as well show the ability to come up with possible solutions ideas to issues that they may come across, in areas that may be outside their expertise; be willing to take on uncertain challenges; and learn, understand and follow the chain of command.
The work performed will support MRCA’s operation in fire prevention and protection of life, property and resources within greater Los Angeles and beyond. Candidates must have the ability to be out on an extended attack or a campaign fire assignment anywhere within California for up to 21 days.

Supervision

This position reports to the Squad Boss of their assigned crew. Assorted tasks may be supervised by others in the leadership structure, including other Squad Bosses, Captains, and Chiefs as needed. The position supervises no other staff immediately, however opportunities to supervises others may arise, within the abilities of the individual.

Essential Functions

• Performs extensive weed abatement to reduce fire hazards and for native revegetation; with use of tractor, chain saw, weed whacker, spraying herbicide or use of hand tools, in/on a variety of landscape types and topographies.
• Provides information to park visitors on park features, natural resources, historical interpretation, safety, and rules. May lead interpretive hikes.
• Constructs and repairs park facilities such as fencing, restrooms, gates, kiosks.
• Install and maintain park water distribution and suppression systems.
• Directs volunteer crews such as trail crews, community service workers, and the volunteer Mounted Assistance Units. Coordinate with organized public groups utilizing park facilities.
• Assesses any natural or manmade hazards on parkland; warns public, removes or ameliorates hazards if possible.
• Maintains developed park grounds, facilities, trails; operates tractors, trucks, chain saws, other power tools needed for park maintenance.
• Assists crew personnel and others as directed.
• Respond to emergency situations on parkland to protect life, property and resource.
• Patrol and protect park lands, inform the provisions of the Public Resources Code, other codes, ordinances, etc. or writing incident reports as necessary.
• Protects park visitors and structures in wildland fire situations (visitor evacuation), operate pumps, fill tanks, hose layout, line-cutting, water and foam lay-down, etc.
• Assist in emergency search and rescue efforts on parkland, in a wide variety of terrain including steep slopes, canyons, and creeks. Coordinate action with the local authorities as necessary due to the nature of the emergency, i.e., brush fire, flood, etc.
• Coordinate with outside agency crews working on parkland.
• Perform heavy physical labor; including lifting and carrying items weighing up to but not limited to 90 pounds a distance of up to but not limited to 50 feet.
• Operate with substantial independence and coordinate work with others in completing assignments.
• Perform routine maintenance and repairs on agency vehicles and other equipment.
• Ability to be out on an extended attack or a campaign fire assignment anywhere within California up to 21 days.
• Maintain good habits of answering and responding to incoming telephone calls, correspondence, and when communicating and providing customer service to citizens who seek assistance.
• Maintain positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner’s associations, and the public at large.
• Perform related duties as required (such as administrative).

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to frequently communicate and exchange information, review handwritten, electronic and facsimile documents. The employee must occasionally move items weighing up to 45 pounds or more, outdoors, in different weather situations up to three miles (Pack Test – Arduous Position).
Must be able to constantly work in outdoor weather conditions, frequently operate brushing and firefighting equipment and tools, frequently move about work sites, communicate and exchange information, observe site conditions, transport equipment and tools between vehicles and work sites on a daily basis, and occasionally ascend/descend a ladder to access areas of work.

Required Hours and Location

Individuals will be assigned to a crew, working either a Sun-Wed or Wed-Sat shift, working 10 hours per day, 40 hours per week with some scheduling flexibility. Occasional overtime work in evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays upon prior approval by supervisor. This position will work out of Holiday Camp Fire Station in Calabasas but may be required to travel to various other locations.

Minimum Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Education and Experience

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must at least have a High School diploma or Equivalent
• Meet requirements of a Firefighter TYPE 2 (T) NWCG 310-1 2006 - desired but not required.
• No prior fire experience is required, however is desired.

Training and Certification

• Able to complete the MRCA Wildland Academy to become NWCG FFT2 (T) in May, (if needed)
• Attend the 8hr RT-130 Annual Fireline Safety Refresher
• Completion of BLS First Aid and CPR/AED, or obtain through MRCA when available
• Current National Registry EMT Certification is desired, but not required.

Knowledge of

• Moderate proficiency with Office 365 and email, with particular emphasis on word-processing and spreadsheet programs is desired.

Ability to

• Prioritize varying tasks and projects, and manage multiple projects at once.
• Work independently to handle multiple tasks under deadlines.
• Revise work approach to address changed conditions.
• Complete projects and follow oral and written directions.
• Quickly change tasks and focus.
• Learn technical material.
• Innovate and improve processes.
• Exercise discretion and sensitivity to confidential information.

Competencies

• Excellent oral and written English language skills. Not required to be a native English speaker, but fluency in English will be required.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work including the general public.

Other Requirements

Candidates must have a valid California driver’s license in good standing with a satisfactory driving record. Employees must be willing to participate in agency emergency response, which can be anywhere within the state of California. Bilingual skills in English and another locally common language, such as Spanish, Korean, Farsi, Chinese, Armenian, Yiddish, or Tagalog is highly desired.

All Appointment Offers Are Contingent Upon The Following

• Background check including submission of fingerprints to Department of Justice, and a record clean of violent crimes or felonies.
• Successful completion of a physical examination including a drug test.
• Verification of the right to work in the United States.

This job announcement is not intended to, and does not, create an employment contract of any kind and does not create any express or implied contractual obligations. Employment at MRCA is at-will without exception. The employee and MRCA may terminate employment at any time with or without advance notice and with or without cause.

Any provision contained in this job announcement may be modified or revoked at any time without notice.

Seasonal employees receive Paid Sick Leave per State of California requirements, as well as all benefits funded by payroll taxes, including Medicare, Workers Comp and SDI, and they may receive training and education if approved by their supervisor. Our EAP plan is available to all employees. Seasonal employees become eligible for CalPERS after they have worked 1,000 hours.