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wildland firefighter

US Department of the Interior

The majority of the duties performed by a wildland firefighter are outdoors. Experiencing elements of all four seasons is not uncommon. Depending upon where you are stationed, you may experience all four seasons within a few days. Most duties are related to prescribed burning, wildfire suppression, and fire preparedness. These duties include serving as a firefighter or engine operator during prescribed burning and wildfire suppression activities; conducting regular maintenance and repairs on various equipment such as fire engines, tractors, mowers, chain saws, and hand tools; serving as a crew member during fire break preparation which involves rock removal, mowing, trimming, tree and brush removal. You may have the potential to assist other refuges as well as other federal or state agencies throughout the nation with prescribed burning and wildfire suppression. When not involved with fire related activities, you may provide assistance in conducting natural resources related project work on behalf of the Fish and Wildlife Service's many refuges throughout the country.   
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Each position is classed as an arduous fire position under the Interagency Wildfire Qualifications Standards adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As a condition of employment, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination (which the Service will pay for). You will be required to achieve an arduous rating on the "Pack Test," which requires you to walk 3 miles with a 45 pound backpack in 45 minutes or less. The Pack Test is correlated to measures of aerobic and muscular fitness as well as performance in field tasks such as working with hand tools or carrying loads over rough terrain. The Pack Test will be administered when you first report for duty. If you cannot meet the required fitness score for the Pack Test when it is initially administered, you must retake the test within a two week period. In the event you are unable to meet and maintain the fitness requirements you may be terminated in accordance with applicable personnel regulations.   
Most positions require working on an engine or hand crew. This will entail working with as few as two individuals to as many as 20 individuals. Whether it is two or 20, it is imperative that you can work well with others. Communication with others is a vital part of the success of the job. Primary contacts are generally other crew members, crew supervisors, and others in the wild land fire management organization.   
Most seasonal positions work 40 hours per week, but part-time and "intermittent" openings may be an option occasionally. Some positions require non-standard work schedules such as four 10-hour days, ten days on and four days off, or other variations. Early and late season employment is on an as-needed basis, depending on weather, fire season, and budgets. A 40-hour week is not guaranteed during pre or post-season work.   
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED If selected for a fire position you will be expected to wear protective and safety equipment. The government will supply most items - hard hat, leather gloves, fire resistant clothing, backpack, tent, etc. However, you will need to purchase a GOOD pair 
of firefighting boots. You will be reimbursed up to a certain amount for the boots. It is a very good idea to break the boots in BEFORE the first day of work. Other than boots, you will only need to furnish your personal belongings.   
OUTDOOR SKILLS Can you drive a truck with a manual transmission? Can you change a tire? Can you run a chainsaw? Can you pitch a tent? Can you tie half a dozen knots and sharpen a knife? Can you read a topographic map? Can you use a compass? Learning how to get by and make do in the outdoors comes in handy. If you don't currently have any outdoor skills - ARE YOU WILLING TO LEARN? If you are willing to learn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is willing to train you. Any outdoor skills that you currently possess will be to your benefit.   
HOUSING Many of the refuges in this region provide housing for their seasonal fire crews for a nominal fee. In some cases the location of the position may be remote and refuge housing may be the only option. On the other hand some refuges are located near small towns that have properties available to rent.

Job security and the various benefits are great. The thing is, they want you to pitch-in your money to all of their offers (like TSP and FERS/FRAE), YET, they typically hire you at a pathetic lower GS-4 and 5 pay, of which after taxes and benefits comes out to nearly $9/hr to survive on. And guess what? If you're an injured veteran hired under a VRA or VEOA authority, you'll be put on a 2-3 year probationary status where on a monthly basis, everyone constantly reminds you that YOU CAN STILL BE FIRED WITHOUT NOTICE. 

    This culture is VERY discriminating to veterans, and it's been happening nationwide. Especially in the Hoover Dam, if you are not Mormon or don't kiss-up enough, you won't get promoted as quickly to certain desk positions; not to mention how there are no opportunities for promotion unless you file an EEO. The AFGE union their doesn't care about you or you job either. The DOI/BOR doesn't want you to get smart, because when you realize you're being ripped of for conducting duties that aren't on your position description, that's when they try to fire you, and the scariest part, is that a majority of the management trying to fire you are veterans too, AND NOBODY HAS YOUR BACK. So, VRA's and VEOA's are nothing but a temp agency, and you have to hope to GOD no one with a "hair up theirs" will have it out to get you fired for something you didn't do. 

    Not all management in the DOI is like this, but particularly at the BOR in Boulder City, the HR department is very discriminating and they are very bias against vets. The HR dept loves to set up ethics classes to gain your trust by telling you to "trust them" with your issues prior to going to EEO or calling the company hotline. If you get accused of the smallest thing, they won't even involve you or your testimony in the investigation, they just straight fire you, so working their, you always feel "on thin ice" and if you want to keep your job, you will go to EEO to file a complaint like the many others who have done so. Also, the HR dept will lie to your face under oath, promising they won't say anything to the NV DETR unemployment office, but they are two-faced, and as soon as you leave, the do all in their power to burn you from receiving your benefits. They don't care that you've moved all the way out to a desolate area in Nevada for the job you just lost, only to be now stuck without an income and facing eviction.

    What it is, is that a lot of folks there who are permanent are now "settled-in" making 3 to 4 times what you make in pay, thus, nobody cares about protecting you as long as they're covered and making good pay. And the sad part, is that a lot of these people who should be helping are veterans burning other veterans over.

The work that I have performed has been confidential and management level. I have accomplished what I perceive to be the cap of my plateau for work accomplishments and am not advancing to the level at which I should be. Working for the Government has allowed me to add to my personal portfolio dealing with Human Resources and the differences between federal, state and non-compliant laws and regulations and how they change quite frequently; Also the difference in personalities when confronted with political and personal agendas.

Being here with DOI/ National Park Service, I have gotten to know a wide variety of people ranging from the movers, the shakers and the non-changers. It has been an experience working within the confines of a large regional wide "business". The leadership is good and could be grand. This is a perfect environment for one just coming out of college and who has not been dipped into the world knowing exactly where and what they want out of their career. There is a vast amount of knowledge to be gained from the National Park Service.

The hardest part of this job would be working among a "separatist" environment. There are too many little islands only holding certain sections of employees and unfortunately the same mental environment exist with management. It is frustrating to know how easy it could be for everyone if everyone considered themselves as part of ONE! 

In every other position I have ever held, this was a high demand and it worked. Nobody wants to paddle up stream against the current. It's the force of the current which sometimes makes a paddles just bring the ores in out of the water to float with the current; even if in the wrong direction. I am not stating that everyone must change, but change is inevitable. I am saying cohesiveness is an essential item in the recipe of any business stew.

The most enjoyable part of this job for is working with and getting to know my fellow employees. They are just a funny group of people and I like making them smile even on the worst of days.

I worked for this agency out of the New Orleans District. It is VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. All of the newly hired inspectors were either friends or relatives of current management and senior inspectors. After the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico the bureau was justy renamed. Seems the same old politics still thrived though. One newly hired coworker who was disgruntled because of his G-07 position. Has been involved with underminding atleast 3 other newly hired inspectors besides myself. They speed to and from airbase back to office like it's a game to see who will arrive first. Putting the public as well as those in government van traveling with him in serious danger. Rules do not apply to all employees. But they are enforced if management does not like you for what ever reason. Discrimination by race amongst senior inspectors assigned to train the newly hired inexperienced. This applies to black and white inspectors. Very unorganized pertaining to transportation to offshore facilities and on the job trainingas well. There's no such itemized training system and standards to adhere to. If you are experienced in the oilfield watch out! You will be underminded by other inspectors that do not possess to knowledge that you may have aquired through hands on experience. Senior Inspectors are not receptive at all to input from newly hired Inspectors. I was confronted by the quote "Lead Inspectors Offspring" that was just hired in 2011 months prior to me. Hollering in my face in the seat in front of me in the work van. Actually turned in his seat to insult me using any means verbally. When I took issue with his treatment of me. I was reprimanded by management while he did not incur any sort of consequences. I could go on and on. Glad I do not work their anymore

2015 Fire Season
Position; Supervisory Range Technician (Fire) GS-8
I was fortunate to accept a Career Seasonal Position with the Southern Nevada District of the BLM in Las Vegas. I am currently the Assistant Superintendent of the Vegas Valley Handcrew, which is one of the agency’s Veteran Crews. My primary duty is to provide fireline supervision during all stages of response to wildland fire emergencies. The fire environment is a dangerous and dynamic workplace I must provide leadership and direction to my subordinates. Together we recognize hazards and implement safety procedures to mitigate risk and complete work assignments. I supervise the handcrew in administrative capacities as well and must communicate and interact with internal and external personal to provide consistent operation of the crew. During incidents I have to evaluate conditions, determine the appropriate actions, and implement tactical decisions. The crew is a Type 2IA Handcrew and may function as an intact crew or in multiple modules. The position requires me to execute complex burn projects in a wide variety of fuel types and perform complex firing operations on wildfire incidents. Most of these duties include strenuous physical activity. The crew works to stabilize emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Due to these workplace conditions it is important that the entire module practices excellent physical and mental preparedness. I am responsible for the physical training program of the crew and demand the highest performance of myself and the crew. My goal is to train, learn, and practice together to become the most productive and cohesive unit possible. I am excited for the challenges and opportunities that this position will present. I look forward to contributing to the crew’s and district’s futures.

Hired as Maintenace Mechanic WG7. Was placed on the job with no training. The Bettles NPS/USFW Joint Use Facility is staffed year-round by three rotational staff; an Interp. Ranger and two Maintenace workers of which I was one. Your supervisor is 250 miles south in Fairbanks and will not spend the time nor money to facilitate your on-boarding into DOI. I struggled to understand NPS policies, procedure and practices. Safety oversight and trading did not exist and the potential hazards at this facility are many and unmitigated due to lack of manpower and priority.

I struggled to communicate with my supervisor as he believed in a dictatorial management style. Rarely, if ever, listening to concerns, questions relating to work tasks and often forgetting phone conversations and verbal directions. You will be told you'll be given the "tools to succeed" but will find them lacking explanation, direction and training. Cover your A** with emails!

The long-term Bettles DOI employees will criticize you, manipulate information and misinform your supervisor of your work efforts because they are threatened by your presence. Don't expect to fit in.

You will enjoy the community if you are a down to earth and honest soul. Don't take your job along to community events. The hardest part of the job is the timekeeping and work order system and it will challenge your ability to do the job you are expected to perform. Be aware that upper management will not support you and side always with your supervisor. They are from the same NPS clan and will look out for each other.

Otherwise, a beautiful place to work and live.

It is REMOTE fly in fly out...only!  I lodge, I small store, one good group of folks and a few who've been in the bush too long!

My days at work can be grouped into On The River and Off The River. Any days on the river were great. River patrols would be assigned every other week, ranging from 1 night - 3 nights of camping. The patrols are very labor intensive, paddling 7+ hours a day, cleaning camp sites, picking up trash out of the river, and setting up camp for the night, and then doing it all again the next day. The hard physical work is worth it if you're an outdoors person and love the thought of essentially getting paid to camp and canoe and socialize.

I've had to learn a lot about the history of Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument for work as well as surrounding area history in order for me to properly assist guests and visitors.

All of my co-workers are amazing and super friendly, nice, and accepting. I've never worked with such a wide spectrum of people from different backgrounds and walks of life all with an amazing happy, encouraging, caring attitude. Emphasis on caring, everyone was always making sure you had enough water to drink, or that you ate lunch, or that you're not over working yourself in the sun.

My boss and my two supervisors were all great guys, they all were very much into helping out as much as possible and always looked out for everyone. They were very accommodating when it came to the schedule and any and all emergencies that came up.

I have to say the most enjoyable part of the job was getting to go hiking after we were done with work for the day while we were on our river patrols.

The hardest part of the job would have to be the physical labor on hot days. Installing fencing, gates, hauling materials, landscape work.

This position is located in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Business, Fiscal, and Information Resources Management (IRM) Directorate (WO-800), Division of Information Resources Management (IRM Governance WO-860).  The Directorate provides national direction, policies, and administrative oversight for records and FOIA bureau-wide.  The Division of IRM Governance is primarily responsible for FOIA, records, directives, Section 508 compliance (Rehabilitation Act), Information Quality, and Indian Trust record management.

The management assistant provides confidential assistance to the Division Chief for secretarial, administrative, and overall office management functions required to support the manager and the WO-860 staff.   Most all duties are performed independently or interdependently with minimal supervision. The management assistant maintains currency on all office policies, procedures, and operations. 

This position performs technical work in support of management analysis and/or program analysis, primarily related to FOIA processing.  Additionally, the incumbent provides confidential management assistance to the Division Chief for management or program analytical work.   Most all duties are performed independently or interdependently with minimal supervision. 

The hardest part of the job is the long commute; however, interactions with experienced, knowlegeable and dedicated staff people offset the rigors of the commute.

I was assigned many different task while working for the BLM an enjoyed most if not all of it. We would get a brief explanation on what we were doing that day that would consist of one of three things; Assisting the Weed Warriors, Surveyors, or the Campsite manager. Most of the time we would have to drive out of town a while to get where we needed to be. Once there we would discuss more in detail what was expected of us and what the goals were. While assisting the Weed Warriors we would, well, wage war against the un-indigenous weeds in the surrounding areas. This meant that we would: go in with shovels, hoes, and rakes; de-root the alien plants and cut the flowers on top and bag them so they could no longer reproduce. When Assisting the Surveyors, we would do just that, survey the landscape. Though our primary goal is to be searching for any evidence or native artifacts, we would document any unnatural occurrences we came to be aware of. We would stand in a line about 2-3 yards for one another an walk until the entire area was surveyed. Helping the Campsite Manager was what we would most frequently do, as it was seasonal and there was a lot of work to be done. We would go to various campsites in the surrounding areas an make sure all the fire pits were up to code, reinforce any fencing that may have been compromised, trash cans and bathrooms were up to par. I enjoyed learning with my co-workers, which became friends, and ended up giving me a nickname that they still call be by.

I retired after 40 years of federal service, 17 with the Bureau of Reclamation (a component of the DOI).  I found the work interesting and challenging.  I didn't always get the training I wanted but enough to help me improve my skills and promotion potential.  Speaking of promotions, they are hard to come by.  Seems I was only offered promotions after I decided to transfer to a better paying area.  I truly enjoyed working with most of my peers.  Most were dedicated and professional.  Unfortunately,  labor policies and unions makes it almost impossible to flush out the deadbeats, of which there were a few.  In fact, it's those employees that created the most problems as others would have to pick up their slack.  Family life is important and the Bureau would be very accommodating in regards to employees' family needs.   The benefits are very good to excellent and partially compensates for relatively lower pay than private, or even state, sectors.  Many federal employees stay due to job security and a desire to serve the public (might sound corny to some but important to many gov't employees).  There is quite a bit of structure but I've always felt that there is enough room for innovation, especially if there was a benefit for our customers, coworkers, or cost savings.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Laborer 1 salary reported	$27.06 per hour
Elementary school teacher 18 salaries reported	$45.00 per hour
Maintenance person 4 salaries reported	$26.72 per hour
Biological technician 4 salaries reported	$23.42 per hour
Wildland firefighter 2 salaries reported	$58,437 per year

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