Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 2/3 - White Mountain Lead Crewmember (PCN 10-9826)

State of Alaska; Fairbanks (AK); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection in Fairbanks, AK, is recruiting for a Wildland Forestry Technician 2/3 Flex on a 20-person hand crew. Primary duties include wildland fire suppression, chainsaw and water pump operations, burnout and backfiring, and basic administrative tasks.

Travel within Alaska is required, with long shifts during fire season. The role emphasizes safety, training, and progression, with opportunities to advance skills across fire

Qualifications

• Six months of trainee or entry level wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience.
• Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).
• Substitution: completed college coursework in forestry or fire science may substitute for field experience with credits.
• There is no substitution for the National Incident Qualification System (Red Card) qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Wildland fire suppression and related field duties on a 20-person hand crew (Type 2 Initial Attack).
• Chainsaw operations, water pump operations, burnout and backfiring.
• Line digging and safely working with fire mitigation equipment.
• Travel within Alaska and to other states; long shifts and extended periods away from home.

Skills

Fire Management

Decision Making

Incident Management

Risk Management

Accountability

Job description

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is recruiting for a Wildland Forestry Technician 2/3 Flex in Fairbanks.

What You Will Be Doing:

White Mountain Fire Crew is recruiting Experienced Crewmember positions based in Fairbanks, AK.

This is a Permanent Lead position on a 20-person hand crew (Type 2 Initial Attack). Primary duties include wildland fire suppression, chainsaw operations, water pump operations, burnout and backfiring, line digging, safely working with and around fire mitigation equipment, and performing basic administrative duties. While assigned to fuel reduction tasks, experienced firefighters will be responsible for pile burning, falling and removing hazardous trees, and guiding lower-level technicians. When not on assignment, crewmembers must maintain readiness and be available throughout the fire season.

Mission and Values/Culture:

The mission of the Division of Forestry is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources for Alaskans. The White Mountain Fire Crew supports this mission by helping protect Alaska’s wilderness areas, homes, and businesses from wildfires. White Mountain also works to build a strong and cohesive crew by providing hands-on training and helping crewmembers achieve greater knowledge, skills, and responsibilities

Benefits of Joining Our Team:

By joining White Mountain, you will join a group of highly motivated firefighters. You will have opportunities to widen your experience as a firefighter by working in various fuel types and environments across Alaska and the lower 48. We will work with you to meet your wildland fire career goals by providing training and other career advancement and development opportunities.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:

White Mountain is based in Fairbanks, AK, and works in conjunction with Fairbanks Area Forestry. This position requires travel within Alaska and to other states. You will be required to live and work in remote locations, with shifts often lasting 16 hours a day and for periods of 14 to 21 days. Work will be carried out in all types of terrain and weather conditions.

We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.

• Fire Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of fire management, including the characteristics, behavior, and ecology of fire; methodologies, strategies, and equipment used in prescribed fires; fire detection, prevention, and suppression strategies; and integration of fire with natural resource management.
• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Incident Management: Knowledge of the tactics, technologies, principles, and processes to protect, analyze, prioritize, and handle incidents.
• Risk Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used for risk assessment and mitigation, including assessment of failures and their consequences.
• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.

Six months of trainee or entry level wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience. The required experience is met by service as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
And
Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).

Substitution:
Completed coursework from an accredited college or vocational technical school in forestry, fire science, or a closely related field may substitute for the required six months of field experience. (For college 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month of work experience. Transcripts or a letter from a vocational technical school must indicate a college credit equivalency for the completed coursework. For example, at Alaska Vocational Technical Center: Forest Ecology = 3 semester credits; Forest Regeneration = 2 semester credits; Timber Harvesting and Sale Administration = 4 semester credits; and Wildland Fire Management = 3 semester credits.)

There is no substitution for the National Incident Qualification System (Red Card) qualifications.

Special Note:

Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age.

Most positions require National Incident Qualification System certification. Because there are different specialty areas in this field, recruitment and selection will be made from among those candidates who meet the experience and the basic National Incident Qualification System training requirements specifically listed within the recruitment bulletin. The specialty areas are within one of the following functions: fire operations, wildland fire prevention, and aviation support.

Applicant must be able to pass the Work