Wildland Firefighter (Assistant Engine Captain)

U.S. Department of the Interior; Apple Valley (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the Bureau of Land Management as a firefighter where you will direct operations for wildland fire suppression and maintain essential firefighting equipment. This career seasonal position requires specialized certifications and offers opportunities to work in diverse and challenging environments. Ideal candidates will have a passion for firefighting, physical fitness, and the ability to work well under pressure.

Qualifications

• Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) certification required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) within one year.
• Minimum age of 18 and must pass pre-employment physical.

Responsibilities

• Direct operation of wildland fire suppression and monitoring.
• Maintain firefighting equipment and ensure crew safety.
• Respond to wildland fire incidents with deployed personnel.

Skills

Wildland firefighting techniques

Operating firefighting equipment

Physical fitness

Job description

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.


We expect to fill many vacancies at the following Bureau of Land Management Districts:

Central California District
California Desert District
Nothern California District

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet
Duties

• Directs the operation of a wildland fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire activities.
• Starts pump engine, primes pump, adjusts engine speed and pump valves, lays hose, uses appropriate nozzle.
• Maintains specialized wildland firefighting equipment.
• Conducts and participates in crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
• May serve as Initial Attack Incident Commander on wildland fires and all risk incidents.
• Gather and consider information such as weather, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior to respond to wildland fire incidents.
• Positions and deploys personnel and equipment to protect values at risk.
• Reviews work daily, weekly, or monthly, assuring all standards are met.
• Hears and resolves minor complaints.
• Provides for module safety and welfare and implements training as needed.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
• This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
• You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• You must pass a pre-employment physical.
• You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wild land fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications.
• You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
• You must possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A, B or C endorsement -OR- required to obtain within one year of employment. An extension may be granted upon supervisor approval.
• An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
• May require a one year probationary period.
• Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• This is a Bargaining Unit position.
• This is a career seasonal eligible position. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months, but less than 12 months per calendar year. When work and/or funds are unavailable, you will be placed into non-pay status.

Qualifications
Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.

This position is subject to the Interagency Fire Program (IFPM) Standard and Guide selective placement factors. This position requires the following qualifications - Currency Not Required:

For the GS-6:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND-
Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290)

For the GS-7:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND-
Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290)

Commerical Driver's License: You will be required to obtain a Commerical Driver's License (CDL) with Class A, B or C endorsement within one year of employment. An extension may be granted upon supervisor approval.

Specialized Experience Requirements: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

For the GS-6: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: experience as a member within a fire crew/module assisting in the driving and operating of a wildland fire engine, assisting in the positioning of the engine; starting the pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles; responsible for keeping engine in a full state of readiness. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collects fuels characteristics such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Maintains and operates specialized equipment, including emergency repairs.

For the GS-7: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-06 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: experience leading and directing a fire crew/module in fire suppression, prescribed fire, fire monitoring, and post-fire activities. Mentoring, instructing, and leading crewmembers by planning for and directing fire crew/module operations while recommending and implementing strategies and tactics of the module under evolving incidents with heightened situational awareness.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements.

The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire:

Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.

Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing). Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.