Wildland Firefighter

Forest Service (DOA); Bayfield (CO); Presencial; USD 29.000 - 41.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Forest Service (DOA) seeks a qualified firefighter to join a national forest fire management team. The role involves wildland fire suppression, maintenance of equipment, and crew leadership across a variety of assignments including hand crews, engines, and helitack operations.

The position requires meeting NWCG standards, passing a background check, and willingness to travel occasionally. Location options include Bayfield, CO and other nearby sites; this is a temporary, full‑time appointment

Formación

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GW-04 grade level or higher.
• NWCG core requirements FFT1 and S-290 are listed as selective factors.

Responsabilidades

• Serve as a senior firefighter on a hand crew and on a fire engine or helitack crew.
• Perform duties like starting pump engines, laying hose and operating pumps.
• Lead and train crew members, ensure safety, complete manifests for personnel and equipment.

Descripción del empleo

Summary

This position is located within a National Forest. The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization. The purpose of the position is wildland fire suppression/management/control, as a firefighter on an engine, hotshot, helitack or hand crew.

Locations

• Bayfield, CO
• Buffalo Creek, CO
• Canon City, CO
• Dolores, CO
• Durango, CO
• Eagle, CO
• La Jara, CO
• Lake George, CO
• Monte Vista, CO
• Monument, CO
• Pagosa Springs, CO
• Rifle, CO
• Saguache, CO
• Salida, CO
• Shawnee, CO
• Silverthorne, CO
• Steamboat Springs, CO
• Walden, CO
• Woodland Park, CO
• Yampa, CO
• Chadron, NE
• Halsey, NE
• Custer, SD
• Fort Pierre, SD
• Hill City, SD
• Hot Springs, SD
• Nemo, SD
• Rapid City, SD
• Spearfish, SD
• Wall, SD
• Buffalo, WY
• Cody, WY
• Douglas, WY
• Dubois, WY
• Greybull, WY
• Lander, WY
• Laramie, WY
• Newcastle, WY
• Saratoga, WY
• Sheridan, WY
• Sundance, WY

Location Negotiable After Selection

Salary

$25.37 – $25.37 per hour. Salary is reflective of the new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for the General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective 3/23/2025.

Pay scale & grade: GW 5

Promotion potential: None

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Occasional travel – Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.

Appointment type

Temporary

Occupation and Job Series

• 0456 Wildland Fire Management

Supervisory status

No

Federal service type

This job is in the Competitive Service

Represented by a union

No

Drug test

Yes

Security clearance

Other

Position sensitivity and risk

• Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
• Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
• Background check type

Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required

No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number: 27-TEMPF3-R2-2PC029-5DH

Control number: 890785200

Open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

• Serves as a senior firefighter on a hand crew. May perform the duties of a qualified faller, saw repair technician, or certified in the use of long line. May on occasion serve as driver of crew carrier.
• All drivers of crew carriers are required to meet state Department of Transportation licensing requirements. This license must be obtained prior to being assigned driver duties.
• Driver is subject the requirements of the Department of Transportation drug and alcohol testing program. Serves as a senior firefighter on a Fire Engine. Serves as alternate to the Assistant Fire Engine Operator.
• May assist in performing work of starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles and nozzle adjustment in effective use of water and additives.
• Firefighter may have specialized duties such as water handling specialist, fully qualified faller, or responsible for maintenance of specialized equipment used to respond to wildland urban interface/intermix situations.
• Serves as a senior firefighter on a helitack crew. Loads helicopter cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weight, etc.
• Completes manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work site. May exit helicopter in remote areas to construct helispots, or to attack small fires, hot spots and spot fires.
• Specialized firefighter may serve as certified rappeler or specialist in the operation and maintenance of accessory equipment. May serve as part of a short haul crew.
• While on the fireline, employee will suppress the fire by moving dirt, chopping brush, felling trees, to build fire line.
• Uses hand tools such as axe, Pulaski, shovel and McLeod, and power saws, to control spreading wildland fire until relieved or fire is suppressed.
• May perform various aviation and ground support activities, such as servicing and operating batch mixers, tanks, and related components including pumps, valves, and hoses.
• Conducts operations in the urban interface and/or point protection in remote settings as directed.
• May fill-in for other work leaders on established crews who are absent. May lead a squad (3-5) firefighters on a module in performing suppression duties on small or large fires.
• As work leader is responsible for showing new employees how the work is performed, for implementing quantity and quality goals on-the-job, for assuring that equipment and tools are available, and that work is performed in a safe manner.
• May inventory fuel beds, prepare associated reports, monitor burning conditions, pile logging debris and act in assigned positions during fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire.
• May perform project work and lead other workers in the same type of work which may include but is not limited to cleaning outdoor recreational facilities; mows grass and trims shrubs.
• May perform trail maintenance and building maintenance duties; marks trees for timber harvesting in accordance with designated plan, checks seedling survival, and so forth.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.gov.
• Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver’s license; a commercial driver’s license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
• This is a Test Designated Position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
• Incumbent is subject to medical screening and must meet the Federal Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting.
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
• Occasional overnight travel may be required for fire suppression or fire related assignment.
• Must pass the appropriate level of the Work Capacity Test for Wildland Firefighters.
• Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND-
• Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290).

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

In order to be considered for this position, copies of your Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) Master Record (or equivalent training documents) which contain documented proof of the certification or attainment of the IFPM Selective Placement Factor for this position MUST be attached to your application. Red cards are not acceptable documentation.

GW-05: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-04 grade level in federal service or equivalent; OR successful completion of a 4‑year course of study in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields of study; OR a combination of education and experience.

Examples of specialized experience include: Patrolling areas of controlled fires to mop-up by searching out and extinguishing any remaining burning material. Serving on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) to suppress the full range of difficult and complex fires. Operating specialized fire suppression equipment such as portable pumps or drip torches.

Selective Placement Factors

• Successfully completed the Primary NWCG Core Requirement of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND-
• Successfully completed the Secondary NWCG Core Requirement of Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290).

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a condition of employment, which means you must maintain the required level of physical fitness in order to remain in the position. The Arduous fitness (Pack) Test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty‑five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty‑five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements.

In accordance with USDA Department Regulation 4430-792-2, this position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the USDA Drug Free Workplace Program and subject to pre‑