Wildland Firefighter (All Crew Types) (Career Seasonal).

Bureau of Land Management; Durban; On-site; ZAR 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking qualified wildland firefighters for seasonal positions in Durban, South Africa. Candidates will be responsible for performing various firefighting and fire management duties, including operating specialized equipment and participating in prescribed burns. This demanding role requires adherence to safety protocols and a commitment to maintaining high physical fitness standards.

Benefits

Training opportunities in fire management

Access to health benefits

Qualifications

• Must possess specialized experience in wildland firefighting.
• Experience in operating firefighting equipment is essential.
• Firefighter training certifications must be held.

Responsibilities

• Conducts prescribed fire operations and wildfire suppression.
• Operates specialized firefighting equipment under hazardous conditions.
• Participates in fitness tests and safety reviews.

Skills

Fire suppression techniques

Chainsaw operation

Hazardous fuels reduction

Monitoring fire behavior

Education

Wildland Fire Training

Job description

Duties

• Gather and consider information such as weather, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior to respond to wildland fire incidents.
• Performs all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations, including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up.
• May be required to operate light vehicles and 4x4s.
• Engine- specialize in using these engines for initial and extended attack fire suppression and prescribed fire support.
• Engine- work with specialized firefighting equipment and perform many activities such as mobile attack with engines, deploying hose lays, fireline construction with hand tools, burnout operations and mopping up hotspots.
• IHC/Vet Crew-Operates, maintains and makes minor repairs to chainsaws.
• IHC/Vet Crew-Responsible for operation and maintenance of specialized wildland firefighting equipment.
• IHC/ Vet Crew-Constructs hand lines in various vegetative types
• Fuels- Conducts hazardous fuels reduction projects and participates in prescribed fire operations.
• Fuels- Evaluates fuels treatment and prescribed fire effectiveness through vegetation monitoring.
• Fuels- Participates in preparedness reviews, proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and after-action reviews.
• Work may include working as a crew member on any of the following types of crews: Engine, Fuels, IHC, or Veteran. For more information on Crew Types, visit: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/crews
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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 wildland fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications.
• You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
• 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 position. You may 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 Factor(s) GS-06 ONLY, ANY CREW: 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 has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Senior Firefighter and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at

• Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1)
• Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290)
  
  

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

All Crew Types - Specialized Experience: For the GS-4: You must possess 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-3 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trainee wildland firefighter. - OR - 2-year course of study above high school, from an accredited college or university, in Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Technology or in other related fields which included at least 12 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, or natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography). - OR - A combination of the education and work experience described above.

All Crew Types - Specialized Experience: For the GS-5: You must possess 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-4. Examples of specialized work experience include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trainee wildland firefighter; or serving as a crewmember utilizing a variety of specialized fire tools, equipment, and techniques while actively suppressing wildfires. Performing basic fireline activities such as line construction, hose layout, operations of pumps and accessories, lopping and scattering of fuels using hand tools. -OR- 4 years of related education above the high school level. - OR - a combination of education and experience.

Engine Specialized Experience - For the GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: 1) experience serving as a senior wildland firefighter on a wildland fire module or crew with on-the-line wildland fire experience in fire control, prevention or suppression work, and 2) utilizing and maintaining a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. There is no education substitution for this position at the GS-06 grade level.

IHC Specialized Experience - For the GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required, serving as a GS-05 wildland firefighter on a handcrew, wildland or prescribed fire module, as chainsaw operator (including maintenance and minor repairs), preparing and hooking longlines and external loads. Performs preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collects fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Maintains and operates specialized equipment, including emergency repairs. Education cannot be used to qualify for this grade level.

Veteran Crew Specialized Experience - For the GS-6: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-5 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Serve as a senior wildland firefighter on a handcrew, or on a wildland or prescribed fire module. Perform the duties of a chainsaw operator and performs chainsaw maintenance and minor repair. Prepare and hook longlines and external loads. Perform all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Collect fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records

Fuels Specialized Experience - For GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required, Served as a wildland firefighter on a handcrew or prescribed fire crew. Performs the duties of a fully qualified chain saw operator and chainsaw repair technician. Certified in the use of helicopter long lines. Performs all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Collects fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records. Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents. 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.

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.

Education

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Additional information

• Consistent with the recent passage of legislation for permanent pay reform, salaries contained within this vacancy announcement are reflective of the new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, on the General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025.**
  
  

We expect to fill many vacancies in many locations. Choose your preferences when you apply:

Alturas - FIRE ENGINE

Alturas - FUELS CREW

Cedarville - FIRE ENGINE

Doyle - FIRE ENGINE

Placerville - VETERAN CREW

Lee Vining - FIRE ENGINE

Onyx - FIRE ENGINE

Redding - FUELS CREW

Susanville - FIRE ENGINE

Susanville - INTERAGENCY HOTSHOT CREW

Taft - FIRE ENGINE

Topaz - FIRE ENGINE

Bakersfield - FIRE ENGINE

Bakersfield - INTERAGENCY HOTSHOT CREW

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.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information:

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: or or

• 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.
  
  

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.