Wildland Fire Hand Crew Squad Boss — Lead & Readiness

State-of-Washington-Dept.-of-Natural-Resource; Cle Elum (WA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Washington state is looking for a capable Cle Elum-Hand Crew Squad Boss, Wildland Fire Management Lead to guide a 20-person Initial Attack handcrew in Washington’s diverse landscapes.

This full-time, permanent, represented position in the Southeast Region offers monthly salary between $3,827 and $5,111, with partial telework flexibility and potential relocation assistance.

Responsibilities

• Prescribed Fire Support – leads crew to collect site fuels and fire effects data, assist with burn plan writing, community outreach, and Rx burn implementation support.
• Community Resilience - leads crew to conduct home ignition zone assessments as part of Wildfire Ready Neighbors or independent requests from landowners and/or communities; may participate in outreach days and prevention events.
• Forest Health Treatment – leads crew in non-commercial thinning, slash abatement, project layout, and coordination with staff; supports forest health project layout, tree marking, road brushing, GPS data collection, and timber-related tasks.
• Provide direct Fireline supervision of the hand crew for initial attack, suppression activities, and related duties; may perform ICE functions as needed; long hours and irregular schedules.
• Assists with and authors initial incident reports, fire situation narratives, and fire reports.
• Under guidance, plans and implements training for seasonal crews, develops annual preparedness and drills, and ensures safety and readiness across the unit.
• Plans and provides drills and training for firefighters; coordinates planning with program managers; ensures equipment and facilities are ready.
• Ensures vehicles and equipment are serviced regularly; inspects and identifies replacement needs.

Job description

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Washington state is looking for a capable Cle Elum-Hand Crew Squad Boss, Wildland Fire Management Lead to guide a 20-person Initial Attack handcrew in Washington’s diverse landscapes.

This full-time, permanent, represented position in the Southeast Region offers monthly salary between $3,827 and $5,111, with partial telework flexibility and potential relocation assistance.