Fire Hire
The Pacific Northwest and Alaska Regions have more than 1,500 fire positions spread across the National Forests of Alaska, Oregon and Washington. These positions range from Forest Fire Management Officer to Wildland Firefighter.
Hiring Opportunities
Centralized Fire Hire
Oregon/Washington/Alaska Forest Service units hire a majority of their firefighting, aviation and fuels management vacancies during one centralized event annually. GW-3 through GW-10 positions include Smokejumpers, Engines, Hotshot, Initial Attack Handcrews, Airtanker Base, Helitack, Fuels and Dispatcher.
Single Vacancy Fire and Aviation Management Positions
This includes positions generally at the target Grade Level of GW-9 and above. Positions include: Forest Fire Management Officer, District Fire Management Officer, Fuels Specialist, IHC Superintendent, Unit Aviation Officer, Dispatch and Fuels positions. Additional target grade GW-7 and GW-8 positions are filled outside of centralized hiring. Check the Forest Service Outreach Database for current and upcoming vacancies, and vacancy announcements at USAJOBS.
| Hiring | Positions | Announcement Open Period | Announcement Close Period | Application Review and Selection of Applicants for Vacant Positions Starts | Hiring Managers Recommend/Selection Period; Job Offers Extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (Centralized hiring) | Target Grade GW-10 and below, vacant positions | Aug. 22, 2025 | Sept. 23, 2025 | Nov. 3, 2025 – Dec. 12, 2025 | Nov. 3, 2025 – Dec. 12, 2025 |
Direct Hire Authority
- All vacant announcements will be utilizing the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) during the recruit and fill period. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, including selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.
- All announcements are open to the public. Many positions, however, have selective placement factors you must meet to be eligible.
Selective Placement Factors
Many fire positions have Selective Placement Factors which you must hold (or have held) to be eligible to apply. Selective Placement Factors are tied to specific fire line qualifications. Please read each announcement carefully to understand what documents you must attached in order to evaluate your qualifications and meet the selective placement factors for the position you are applying for.
Tips for Applying:
If you are new to applying to a federal job or looking to refresh your knowledge, please review the information below on applying for a position and suggestions for resumes and documents to include. Visit the agency's How-to Apply webpage for information on how to set up a profile in USAJOBS, to get helpful application tips, and to view webinars.