Job opening: Wildland Firefighter (Fire Engine Operator)
Salary: $44 117 - 63 733 per year
Published at: Apr 19 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.
We expect to fill 1 vacancy for each location:
Susanville, CA
Alturas, CA
Cedarville, CA
Doyle, CA
This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement. Learn more about this authority at:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/#url=Fact-Sheet
Duties
Directs the operation of a wildland fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire activities.
Starts pump engine, primes pump, adjusts engine speed and pump valves, lays hose, uses appropriate nozzle.
Maintains specialized wildland firefighting equipment.
Conducts and participates in crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques.
May serve as Initial Attack Incident Commander on wildland fires and all risk incidents.
Gather and consider information such as weather, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior to respond to wildland fire incidents.
Positions and deploys personnel and equipment to protect values at risk.
Reviews work daily, weekly, or monthly, assuring all standards are met.
Hears and resolves minor complaints.
Provides for module safety and welfare and implements training as needed.
Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
- You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
- Direct Deposit Required.
- Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
- Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
- This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
- This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
- You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
- You must pass a pre-employment physical.
- You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wild land fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications.
- You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
- An applicant appointed to this position must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
- May require a one year probationary period.
- Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
- This is a Bargaining Unit position.
- May require a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A, B or C endorsement.
Qualifications
Selective Placement Factors: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. This position has been categorized as a Senior Firefighter and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/.
This position requires the following qualifications - Currency Not Required:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -AND-
Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290)
Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire:
Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.
Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
Specialized Experience for GS-6 grade level: (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-5 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: assisting in the driving and operating of a wildland fire engine, assisting in the positioning the engine; starting the pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles; responsible for keeping engine in a full state of readiness. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collects fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Maintains and operates specialized equipment, including emergency repairs.
-OR-
Education: One year of graduate level coursework towards a Master's degree directly related to wildland firefighting.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.
Specialized Experience for GS-7 grade level: (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-6 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: driving and operating a wildland fire engine, positioning the engine for proper use and operation; starting the pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles; responsible for keeping engine in a full state of readiness. Monitors fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collects fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Maintains and operates specialized equipment, including emergency repairs.
-OR-
Education: One year of graduate level coursework towards a Master's degree directly related to wildland firefighting.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements.
The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.
Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.
Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing). Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft.
Education
If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.
Contacts
- Address BLM California State Office
BLM California State Office, CA-945
2800 Cottage Way
Suite W-1623
Sacramento, CA 95825
US
- Name: Katherine Pomaville
- Email: [email protected]