Fire Hire
Are you looking for job that is anything but ordinary? The Southwestern Region employs permanent and temporary seasonal firefighters and support personnel for ground and air-based wildland fire suppression and fuels management. This includes dispatchers and warehouse crews who assist frontliners with vital logistical and strategic services.
Help protect 11 National Forests and 3 National Grasslands in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Please review information on this page and learn how you can prepare for upcoming hiring events.
Connect with a RecruiterView Career Map
Want wildland firefighters at your job fair or other recruitment event? Fill out our request form.
Upcoming Fire Hire Phases
Temp/Seasonal Positions Open December 31
Applications for temporary/seasonal fire positions will be accepted December 31 through January 14. Open positions are listed below.
Next Permanent Hiring Event Opens January 13
You have lots of time to prepare your application! Permanent Fire Hire Phase 2 will be open January 13 through January 22.
Featured Fire Hire Timeline: Temporary Phase 4
Temporary/Seasonal Fire Hire Phase 3 will open December 31. More information on future permanent and temporary/seasonal hiring events can be found below.
Recorded webinars for jobseekers include Tips for Job Seekers, Hiring Eligibility and Qualifications, How to Write a Federal Resume, and Navigating USAJOBS.gov. Also review the resources at the bottom of this page.
This is a good time to connect with a Fire, Fuels and Aviation Management recruiter to learn more.
Open positions are now listed below. Review your options, and reach out to a hiring manager if you have questions.
- Review the tips for applying below.
- Applications must be submitted through USAJOBS.gov.
- Forest representatives will contact candidates, conduct interviews and make recommendations for hiring. We highly encourage you to be available via phone and email during this time.
- Usually completed within two weeks of the beginning date.
- Forest representatives will contact candidates, conduct interviews and make recommendations for hiring.
- We highly encourage you to be available via phone and email during this time.
- If you were not selected, check your USAJobs account for status updates.
If you are selected, you'll start your new position as early as April 19, 2026.
Job Openings for Temporary Hiring Phase 4
The following positions will open for applications on December 31. Links to apply will be posted closer to the opening date. In the meantime, connect with a fire hire recruiter or the listed hiring manager for more information.
| Job Title and Announcement Number | Pay Plan, Series & Grade | Duty Station | Hiring Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Alpine, AZ | Durand Jaramillo |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Springerville, AZ | Thomas Lopez |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC048-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Alpine, AZ | Durand Jaramillo |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC049-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Springerville, AZ | Thomas Lopez |
| Job Title and Announcement Number | Pay Plan, Series & Grade | Duty Station | Hiring Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildland Firefighter (Helitack) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC027-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Williams, AZ | Marcus Ortiz |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC029-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC029-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Jacob Lake, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC029-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC029-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Williams, AZ | Mario Orozco |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fire Engine Operation) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC030-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fire Engine Operation) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC030-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Jacob Lake, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fire Engine Operation) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC030-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fire Engine Operation) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC030-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Williams, AZ | James Burton |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Jacob Lake, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Williams, AZ | Jacob Miller |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC048-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC048-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Jacob Lake, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC048-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC048-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Williams, AZ | Mario Orozco |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC015-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC015-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Jacob Lake, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC015-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC015-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Williams, AZ | Jacob Miller |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC016-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC016-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Jacob Lake, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC016-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Wildland Firefighter (Fuels Management) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2SC016-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Williams, AZ | Jacob Miller |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS2856-4DH | GS-0462-04 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS2856-4DH | GS-0462-04 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS2856-4DH | GS-0462-04 | Williams, AZ | James Burton |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS3451-5DH | GS-0462-05 | Fredonia, AZ | Robert Veater |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS3451-5DH | GS-0462-05 | Tusayan, AZ | Cody Payne |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS3451-5DH | GS-0462-05 | Williams, AZ | James Burton |
| Job Title and Announcement Number | Pay Plan, Series & Grade | Duty Station | Hiring Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildland Firefighter (Helitack) 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC027-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Prescott, AZ | Cindy Matthews |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC028-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Prescott, AZ | Morgan Nelson |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC029-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Camp Verde, AZ | Charles Ebert |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC029-5DH | GW-0456-05 | Prescott, AZ | Edward Gordon |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Camp Verde, AZ | Charles Ebert |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC033-3DH | GW-0456-03 | Prescott, AZ | Edward Gordon |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC048-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Camp Verde, AZ | Charles Ebert |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC048-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Prescott, AZ | Edward Gordon |
| Wildland Firefighter 26-TEMPF4-R3-2PC049-4DH | GW-0456-04 | Prescott, AZ | Morgan Nelson |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS2856-4DH | GS-0462-04 | Camp Verde, AZ | Lawrence Badger |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS2856-4DH | GS-0462-04 | Crown King, AZ | Ansgar Mitchell |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS2856-4DH | GS-0462-04 | Prescott, AZ | Ansgar Mitchell |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS3451-5DH | GS-0462-05 | Camp Verde, AZ | Lawrence Badger |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS3451-5DH | GS-0462-05 | Crown King, AZ | Ansgar Mitchell |
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS3451-5DH | GS-0462-05 | Prescott, AZ | Ansgar Mitchell |
| Packer Non-Fire 26-TEMP4-R3-FS5434-6DT-ME | WG-7002-06 | Prescott, AZ | Travis Nemeth |
| Job Title and Announcement Number | Pay Plan, Series & Grade | Duty Station | Hiring Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forestry Technician (Lookout) 26-TEMP4-R3-FS3451-5DH | GS-0462-05 | Mesa, AZ | Danon Johnson |
All Fire Hire Phases
The tables below lists the dates for this year's temporary seasonal and permanent fire hire phases. There are typically four temporary seasonal and four permanent fire hire phases per year.
All dates are tentative.
| Phase | Application Period | Recommendations & Selections | Earliest Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | July 1 - July 14, 2025 | Aug. 19 - Sept. 17, 2025 | Oct. 19, 2025 |
2 | Aug. 8 - Aug. 22, 2025 | Sept. 29 - Oct. 28, 2025 | Jan. 12, 2026 |
3 | Oct. 15 - Oct. 30, 2025 | Dec. 10, 2025 - Jan. 28, 2026 | April 19, 2026 |
4 | Dec. 31 - Jan. 14, 2026 | Feb. 25 - April 6, 2026 | June 28, 2026 |
Phase | Application Period | Recommendations & Selections | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aug. 22 - Sept. 23, 2025 | Oct. 27 - Dec. 17, 2025 | March 8, 2026 |
2 | Jan. 13 - Jan. 22, 2026 | Feb. 13 - March 5, 2026 | May 17, 2026 |
3 | March 10 - March 19, 2026 | April 10 - April 30, 2026 | July 12, 2026 |
4 | May 19 - May 28, 2026 | June 18 - July 9, 2026 | Sept. 20, 2026 |
Connect With Us
At any time, you can connect with a Fire, Fuels and Aviation Management recruiter to learn more about upcoming opportunities.
If you need more information about a job currently being advertised, please email the recruiter associated with the advertisement or contact an office.
When you call a Forest Service office, let the person you speak with know you are interested in fire jobs and ask if you can speak with the Fire Management Officer. Be prepared to answer questions as well. Remember, this is an opportunity to make a connection.
Some questions you may want to ask:
- Are there any current vacancies?
- In a typical season, how many vacancies does the location typically have?
- If you don’t have housing in the commutable area, ask if housing is available? If it is not, what other housing options are available in the area?
- What does a typical day look like on district when not suppressing fire?
- When does the district typically start their temporary employees?
- How long does the season last?
- What can I do to prepare myself to be ready for the season?
- As I complete the application process, if I have questions along the way, would it be okay to contact you directly with questions?
Hosting a Recruitment Event?
You can request Forest Service fire recruiters to attend job fairs or other outreach and recruitment events. Just fill out our request form to start the process.
More Resources
- Start your profile on USAJOBS.gov.
- Check the dates.
- Vacancy announcements have specific opening and closing dates.
- Pay attention to details.
- Review the vacancy announcement carefully.
- We encourage you to consider a wide range of locations. More locations equal more opportunities, and the higher the probability of getting a job. Along with that, in general, the more remote a location is, the more likely the location will have opportunities.
- Review application tips before you apply.
- Questions? Email Tobe Haught for more information or call (505) 842-3206.
- Review the vacancy announcement carefully.
Use the jobseeker database to be notified of Forest Service jobs and hiring events.
To get a head start, the Wildland Fire Learning Portal & FEMA Training Home has all the classes you will need to complete, free of charge. It takes a few days to access the Wildland Fire Learning Portal once you register. When the online work is complete, you will also need to attend a field day and pass the Work Capacity Test. Both the field day and work capacity test will take place once you are hired.
- Take the required basic fire courses at the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) website.
- L180, S110, S130, S190