Wildland Firefighter (Prevention)

U.S. Forest Service; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Forest Service seeks a crewmember on a fire crew to join the fire management organization. This role focuses on the development, implementation, and administration of the unit's Fire Prevention Program, including planning, inspections and education activities.

The position requires collaboration with local and state agencies, preparation of plans and reports, and assistance with budget planning and program execution. Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.

Qualifications

• Prior wildland firefighting experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements and administers the unit's Fire Prevention Program.
• Provides input for fire prevention plans and prescribed burn plans.
• Assists with planning, coordinating, and developing wildfire prevention analysis plans.
• Gathers, analyzes and interprets risk, hazards and values to support prevention planning.
• Conducts fire prevention inspections and issues needed corrective actions.
• Plans prevention/education events and presentations for local entities; coordinates with agencies and law enforcement.
• Manages records, reports, and budget-related tasks for the prevention program.

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. This position is responsible for development, implementation and administration of the unit's Fire Prevention Program.

Major Duties

Provides input for fire prevention plans and prescribed burn plan. Assists with establishment of fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation. Assists with planning, analyzing, coordinating, organizing and developing comprehensive Wildfire Prevention Analysis Plans for the unit. Gathers, processes, analyzes and interprets risk, hazards and values needed to prepare these plans. Plans for cost effective and efficient fire prevention programs within the budget. Assists with preparation of annual financial and budgetary plans for the prevention program. Creates new prevention /education opportunities to meet program goals. As available, uses Wildfire Prevention Spatial Assessment and Planning Strategies (WPSAPS) to draft District Prevention Plan. Assists with staffing and executing prevention activities and events. Plans exhibits and events for fire prevention/education activities. Plans, organizes, schedules and directs group prevention/education contacts at local entities. Works directly with personnel from other State and Federal agencies and local rural fire departments to present fire prevention and education messages to a wide variety of users. Coordinates with local law enforcement personnel for violations of State Law, juvenile fire-setter contacts and other violations. Independently analyzes person caused fires and determines needs for prevention emphasis. Prepares reports and obtains information for possible use in apprehension and conviction of trespassers, arsonists, or other violators. May participate as a witness in court actions and testify concerning investigative findings. Makes presentations or talks as required. Recommends or prepares public service announcements where appropriate with assistance from Forest's staff. Enforces existing regulations found in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) within the boundaries of Forest Service Policy to prevent loss and or damage to forest resources. Functions as a Forest Protection Officer with authority to write Notices of Violation and Incident Reports. Coordinates and conducts fire prevention inspections.Provides technical advice and guidance to Forest Service personnel and other industrial operations to ensure compliance with fire precautionary requirements, waivers, public use restrictions and substitute measures. Ensures all are advised of corrective actions needed to mitigate hazardous conditions. As part of fire prevention inspections, designates corrective action required for fire precaution regulations. Works with COR or Sale Administrator in the process. Issues burning or campfire permits for the Unit with regards to fire danger levels, monitors for compliance/non-compliance and manages records. Assists with unit Prevention/Education sign management programs. Prepares, maintains, orders inventory in a timely manner and coordinates with personnel for posting when required. Performs suppression operations as qualified on fire management unit. As assigned, receives reports of fires, plots locations, and initiates action to responding forces. Maintains records and reports including individual fire reports, fire resource orders, and incident action records. Assists with the unit's fire detection program as required. As assigned gathers, processes, analyzes, interprets and comments on information needed for development of fuel treatment plans which may include prescribed fire, timber sales, fuel modifications to provide defensible space and fuel break projects.

Requirements

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. 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.

Evaluations

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be referred to the selecting official. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Other 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.