Temporary Seasonal Wildland Fire Jobs
USDA Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management is a broad career field encompassing firefighters, fire ecologists, fuels specialists, fire managers, administrative personnel, helicopter and fixed wing pilots, aviation and ground safety professionals, radio communications and electronic technicians, dispatchers, and fire prevention specialists.
Seasonal jobs in firefighting include working as part of a local unit hand crew, helitack or helirappeling crew, hotshot crew, engine crew, smokejumper team, fire prevention technicians, dispatch, fire lookouts, or materials and supply handlers.
These are tough jobs usually performed in primitive, backcountry conditions so it is essential that firefighters be in top physical condition. Employees and prospective employees must pass the Work Capacity Test every year before working on the fire line.
The Forest Service provides personal protective clothing, hardhat and a fire shelter, but fire team members must provide their own lug soled, leather, eight-inch topped boots (reimbursable through the Safety Boot Reimbursement Program). The Forest Service also provides training in many specialty fields.
Generally, the Forest Service workforce reaches its highest numbers during the peak fire season each summer. There are many kinds of schedules available.
People who want to be seasonal firefighters need to think about wildland fire hiring as early as August or September as many of the announcements close in September or October. Announcements are typically open for eight days only so knowing application dates is crucial.
The people involved in Fire and Aviation Management well represent the pride exemplified by all Forest Service employees in "caring for the land and serving people." We look for dedicated employees to join our workforce.