Wildland Firefighter (Helitack)

Forest Service (DOA); Payson (AZ); On-site; USD 29,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

The Forest Service seeks a wildland firefighter to join a helitack crew, performing advanced suppression duties and operating specialized equipment across multiple duty locations (AZ/NM). The role emphasizes loading helicopters, inspecting gear, and coordinating personnel and cargo for firefighting tasks.

Applicants must meet NWCG qualifications (FFT1/S-290), be prepared for arduous fitness requirements, and undergo background checks and drug testing.

Qualifications

• GW-05: 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 Fire Science, Fire Training, Fire Technology or other related fields.

Responsibilities

• Independently performs recurring fire suppression duties on a helitack crew as a senior firefighter.
• Loads helicopter personnel and cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weight, etc., and completes manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work site.
• Inventories and inspects helicopter accessories, fire tools, and equipment. Assures that needed tools and equipment are available for firefighting tasks.

Job description

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 specialized firefighter with responsibility for the operation and maintenance of specialized tools or equipment.

Location

Many vacancies in the following locations:

• Payson, AZ
• Prescott, AZ
• Williams, AZ
• Hurley, NM
• Los Alamos, NM
• Tijeras, NM

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

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-R3-2PC027-5DH

Control number

890789100

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

• Independently performs recurring fire suppression duties on a helitack crew as a senior firefighter.
• Loads helicopter personnel and cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weight, etc., and completes manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work site.
• Inventories and inspects helicopter accessories, fire tools, and equipment. Assures that needed tools and equipment are available for firefighting tasks.
• May exit helicopter in remote areas to construct helispots, or to attack small fires, hot spots and spot fires.
• May be certified in the use of long-line external loads and the operation and maintenance of accessory equipment. May serve as a certified rappeller.
• Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.
• When positioning and deploying personnel and equipment, recommend best approaches and practices to use in the protection of the values at risk
• Responsible for operation and maintenance of specialized equipment used to respond to wildland and prescribed fire situations. Accomplishes emergency repairs as necessary to permit continued use of equipment.
• In those instances when the apparatus cannot be used effectively in suppressing the fire, the incumbent takes aggressive control action in attacking the fire, using other means.
• Participates in wildland fire and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression.
• Participates in the safe, efficient operation and use of tools, equipment, and vehicles used in fireline activities, with emphasis on those used in the particular function assigned.
• Participates in crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques. Ensures own and other’s welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignment.
• Serves as an experienced firefighter on helitack or other related fire suppression modules performing fire suppression and/or fuels management duties under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain.
• May inventory fuel beds, prepare associated reports, perform hazard fuel reduction projects, monitor burning conditions, pile vegetation debris.
• Act in assigned positions such as ignition or holding specialist or other designated positions during actual fuel reduction efforts by prescribed fire.
• May perform project work such as road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and miscellaneous equipment and facilities maintenance.
• May assist higher level workers in forestry/range research efforts; in the marketing of forest/range resources; or in the scientific management, protection, and development of forest/range resources.
• May be required to fill-in for other work leaders on established crews.

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)
• 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 : 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 specialized experience.

Examples of specialized experience include : Assisted in loading helicopter cargo and completing manifests of crews and equipment; Patrolled areas of controlled fires to mop-up by searching out and extinguishing any remaining burning material; Served on a specialty crew (hotshot, helitack, engines, etc.) to suppress the full range of difficult and complex fires. Operated 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-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

• 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.

Agency contact information

HRM Contact Center

Phone: [phone] X2

Email: [e-mail]

Address: USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US