Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management)

Forest Service (DOA); Cañon City (CO); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Forest Service (DOA) in the United States is seeking a crewmember on a fuels management crew within the fire management organization. The position is on a fire crew and operates as a skilled member performing fuels management tasks such as broadcast burning and hand/machine piling.

Two fire crew duties include using hand and power tools (chainsaws, firing equipment, portable pumps), collecting data on fuels, weather, and fire behavior, and maintaining equipment.

Qualifications

• GW-04 requires six months general work experience or military service and six months specialized experience or fire-related education.
• Examples of general experience include labor, maintenance, park or wildlife work.
• Examples of specialized experience include forestry, range, wildland firefighter, or similar duties.

Responsibilities

• Works independently or as a skilled member of a fuels management crew engaged in fuels management, including broadcast burning, hand and machine piling, helitorch, and other brush disposal techniques.
• Uses a variety of hand and power tools, including chainsaws, firing equipment, or portable pumps. Gathers data and records information on fuel types, weather conditions, fire behaviors, and status of work accomplished.
• Observes fire safety rules and fire behavior.
• Informs forest visitors and users of fire hazards and prevention regulations.
• Cleans, maintains, reconditions, and stores tools and equipment.
• May be assigned to other resource management activities such as recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fuels management.
• Supports wildland fire suppression activities.

Skills

Chainsaws

Firing equipment

Portable pumps

Tools

Chainsaws

Firing equipment

Portable pumps

Job description

Summary

Job Corps graduates of fire certified programs are encouraged to apply.

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 position serves as a skilled member of a fuels management crew.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Location

Many vacancies in the following locations:

Canon City, CO

Lake George, CO

Salida, CO

Shawnee, CO

Woodland Park, CO

Location Negotiable After Selection

Laramie, WY

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible: No

Remote job: No

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Salary: $23.20 – $23.20 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.

Promotion potential: None

Pay scale & grade: GW 4

Work schedule: Full-time

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

Appointment type: Temporary, Occupations 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: Suitability/Fitness.

Financial disclosure required: No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number: 27-TEMPF3-R2-2SC015-4DH

Control number: 890787300

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

• Works independently or as a skilled member of a fuels management crew engaged in fuels management, including broadcast burning, hand and machine piling, helitorch, and other brush disposal techniques.
• Uses a variety of hand and power tools, including chainsaws, firing equipment, or portable pumps. Gathers data and records information on fuel types, weather conditions, fire behaviors, and status of work accomplished.
• Is responsible for observing the rules of fire safety and fire behavior.
• Informs forest visitors and users of fire hazards and prevention regulations.
• Cleans, maintains, reconditions, and stores tools and equipment.
• May be assigned to other resource management activities such as recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fuels management.
• Supports wildland fire suppression activities.

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.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
• This is a secondary firefighter position under 5 USC 8336© (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Prior wildland firefighting experience is required. There is no age limit for entry into secondary positions.

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.

GW-04: Applicants must have six (6) months of general work experience or military service that demonstrated the ability to follow directions and to read, understand, and retain a

variety of instructions, regulations, and procedures and that otherwise demonstrates the ability to perform or learn to perform the duties of the position AND six (6) months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-03 in the federal service or equivalent; OR successful completion of a two (2)-year course of study in an accredited college or university in Fire Training, Fire Science, Fire Technology or other related fields of study; OR an appropriate combination of experience and education.

Examples of General Experience includes: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding/tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities and/or worked in a greenhouse, nursery or landscaping e.g., planting, moving, watering, and tending plants and/or animal caretaker in a laboratory, zoo or pet store and/or volunteer work at a park, hospital, community sports league, local fire department, etc.

Examples of specialized experience include: Performing natural resource support work, e.g., forestry, range, park technician, wildland firefighter, or similar jobs; performing routine support assignments in a forestry specialty area, e.g., wilderness, timber, fire prevention/control, etc.

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-employment drug testing. All applicants selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Incumbents of this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis on an ongoing random basis, after appointment as directed.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2027 Temporary Employment Hiring season. The expected start date for this position will be between April 18, 2027 to June 13, 2027.

By selecting the “Location Negotiable” option during the application process, implies your willingness to be considered for any official duty location listed on this announcement and/or those duty locations not listed for this Regional announcement. Pay rates vary depending on location. The salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other groups within the Region who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in any of the geographic location(s) listed on the announcement. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management’s website for additional information on pay rates.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency’s definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay.

This position is not eligible for telework. Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required documents

Required Documents

• Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education ; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications . Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
• If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least “Fully Successful” or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Fair and transparent

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probationary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Additional locations

Woodland Park, CO

Location Negotiable After Selection

Laramie, WY