Fire
Through partnerships and the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, the Forest Service is working with other federal agencies and local, state, and tribal governments to plan for, prevent, and safely respond to wildland fire across all lands and jurisdictions.
Fire Information
Prescribed fire, which can include vegetation cutting, removal and burning of piles and low-intensity understory burning, is an important tool to create habitat and reduce wildfire risk. Prescribed fire communication and wildfire incident information can be found on InciWeb.
Fire Hire
Challenge yourself to new limits, join the Forest Service men and women who serve and protect millions of acres with our national forests, communities, and our natural resources. Learn more about California Wildland Firefighter recruitment. Apply for Fire & fuels careers with Mendocino National Forest.
Prevention
Every year, on average, human-caused wildfires account for approximately 85% of wildfires in the United States. Educate yourself on how you can prevent wildfires and mitigate the impacts of wildfires on your community.
Resources
The Mendocino National Forest has ten engines, two hotshot/initial attack hand crews, four water tenders, four prevention patrols, one dozer and an emergency communications center. One lookout at Anthony Peak is staffed.
Fire Danger Ratings
Fires are not easily started. Fuels do not ignite readily from small firebrands, although a more intense ignition source, such as lightning, may start many fires in duff or dry rotten wood. Fires in open, dry grasslands may burn freely a few hours after rain, but fires burning in forested areas spread slowly by creeping or smoldering, and burn in irregular fingers. There is little danger of spotting.
Fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate. Fires can start from most accidental causes, but with the exception of lightning fires in some areas, the number of starts is generally low. Fires in open, dry grassland will burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days. Wood fires spread slowly to moderately fast. The average fire is of moderate intensity, although heavy concentrations of fuel may burn hot. Short-distance spotting may occur but is not persistent. Fires are not likely to become serious, and control is relatively easy.
Fires start easily and spread at a fast rate. All fine dead fuels ignite readily, and fires start easily from most causes. Unattended campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes, or in concentrations of fine fuel. Fire may become serious and difficult to control unless they are hit hard and fast while small.
Fires start very easily and spread at a very fast rate. Fires start easily from all causes, spread rapidly and intensify quickly. Spot fires are a constant danger. Fires burning in heavy fuels may quickly develop high-intensity characteristics, such as long-distance spotting and fire whirlwinds. Direct attack at the head of such fires is rarely possible after they have been burning more than a few minutes.
The fire situation is explosive and can result in extensive property damage. Fires under extreme conditions start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high-intensity burning will usually be faster and occur from smaller fires than in the very high danger class. Direct attack is rarely possible, and may be dangerous, except immediately after ignition. Fires burning in heavy slash or in conifer stands may be unmanageable while the extreme burning condition lasts. Under these conditions, the only effective and safe control action is on the flanks until the weather changes or the fuel supply lessens.
On-Call Wildland Firefighting Program
Mendocino National Forest sponsors and dispatches 9 on-call (OC) wildland firefighting type-2 hand crews. The OC program has been around for decades and has a positive reputation. OC crews assist wildland fire suppression efforts both locally and nationally. A typical season lasts from May-November. A crew is configured of 18-20 crewmembers and will include a crew boss, three squad bosses (firefighter type-1). OC crewmembers fill roles such as sawyer, saw swamper, firefighter type-1 or trainees, and firefighter type-2.
This training opportunity will give you basic firefighting courses. Once you complete the whole program, which lasts about ten days, you will be certified as a Firefighter Type 2.
- Willits - Feb. 15-23, 2025
- Chico - Mar. 15-23, 2025
All crews operate on a call-when-needed basis. This means you should be packed and ready for a fire assignment at any time and able to respond to the reporting location within a few hours. Each assignment is a two-week commitment. You must be willing and able to be gone for up to 14 days at a time. We understand you may have prior commitments and turning down an assignment will not affect future opportunities with the crew. It is the individual's responsibility to determine whether they can be away for the 14-day assignment.
- S-130 Basic Wildland
- S-190 Intro to Fire Behavior
- L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland
- CPR/First Aid
- Saw Training
- Other training options offered at sign up
Training will be held only once at each designated location. Individuals will be provided with the "Basic 32" classes to become an entry-level firefighter type-2 (FFT2) matching federal standards. This includes a field day which is required regardless of experience level. You must attend and complete all training to receive payment and be on crew rosters. There are no make-up training dates. You will receive a class schedule the day of sign-up.
There is no application - simply show up on sign up days in Upper Lake, Chico, or Willows. You must bring two forms of ID:
- Driver's license (photo ID), social security card or birth certificate.
- Valid US Passport (counts as two forms).
You will need to complete FEMA Courses online I-100 and IS-700 and bring your certificates to sign up day.
If you prefer direct deposit for your paychecks (recommended), please bring your bank account information (account and routing numbers). Also, if applicable, bring any certificates from previous wildland fire training.
There are a few requirements to become a wildland firefigther for the U.S. Forest Service. You must:
- Be 18 years old, and not an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Pass the Arduous Level Fitness Test, also known as the “pack test.”
The pack test consists of walking 3 miles with a 45-pound pack in less than 45 minutes. It’s administered on the first day of training, and you must pass the test to continue the training.
The arduous fitness test is the only requirement; however it is highly recommended that you be in good physical condition. Wildland firefighting is a physically demanding job.
Nothing! There is no cost to join or be a member of the crew. The only initial cost is boots, which range from $100-$500. It is up to you how much you spend on boots. Forest Service standards for wildland firefighter boots include: all leather, non-steel toe, work boots with at least an 8-inch leather upper with Vibram© soles.
Training is paid for by the agency if you complete our training academies. On assignment, expect to make $19.72 to $21.94· per hour depending on qualifications and working 8 to 16-hour shifts. Assignments range from a few days to up to 3 weeks. Please remember, this is an on-call program—assignments are not guaranteed and vary from year to year.
Mendocino Fire & Aviation Training Officer
Jacob Kurko, 530-934-1142, jacob.kurko@usda.gov
Fire Training Assistant
Kate Morris, 530-934,1118, kate.morris@usda.gov