Job opening: Wildland Firefighter (Lead Firefighter) (Engines/Hotshot/Fuels/Veteran Crews)
Salary: $39 576 - 57 354 per year
Published at: Dec 18 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.
We expect to fill many vacancies for positions located in the Central California District and Northern California District.
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
Gather and consider information such as weather, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior to respond to wildland fire incidents.
Performs all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations, including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up.
May be required to operate light vehicles and 4x4s.
Engine- specialize in using these engines for initial and extended attack fire suppression and prescribed fire support.
Engine- work with specialized firefighting equipment and perform many activities such as mobile attack with engines, deploying hose lays, fireline construction with hand tools, burnout operations and mopping up hotspots.
IHC/Vet Crew-Operates, maintains and makes minor repairs to chainsaws.
IHC/Vet Crew-Responsible for operation and maintenance of specialized wildland firefighting equipment.
IHC/ Vet Crew-Constructs hand lines in various vegetative types
Fuels- Conducts hazardous fuels reduction projects and participates in prescribed fire operations.
Fuels- Evaluates fuels treatment and prescribed fire effectiveness through vegetation monitoring.
Fuels- Participates in preparedness reviews, proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and after-action reviews.
Work may include working as a crew member on any of the following types of crews: Engine, Fuels, IHC, or Veteran. For more information on Crew Types, visit: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/crews
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 wildland 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.
- This is a career seasonal position. You will be in pay status for at least 6 months, but less than 12 months per calendar year. When work and/or funds are unavailable, you will be placed into non-pay status.
Qualifications
Specialized Experience: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualifications - include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
All Crew Types - Specialized Experience: For the GS-4: You must possess 6 months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND 6 months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-3 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trainee wildland firefighter. - OR - 2-year course of study above high school, from an accredited college or university, in Wildland Fire Training, Wildland Fire Science, Wildland Fire Technology or in other related fields which included at least 12 semester hours of coursework such as forestry, range management or conservation, or natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography). - OR - A combination of the education and work experience described above.
All Crew Types - Specialized Experience: For the GS-5: You must possess 1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-4. Examples of specialized work experience include on-the-line wildland fire experience in forest/range fire control, prevention or suppression work as a trainee wildland firefighter; or serving as a crewmember utilizing a variety of specialized fire tools, equipment, and techniques while actively suppressing wildfires. Performing basic fireline activities such as line construction, hose layout, operations of pumps and accessories, lopping and scattering of fuels using hand tools. -OR- 4 years of related education above the high school level. - OR - a combination of education and experience.
Engine Specialized Experience - For the GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: 1) experience serving as a senior wildland firefighter on a wildland fire module or crew with on-the-line wildland fire experience in fire control, prevention or suppression work, and 2) utilizing and maintaining a variety of specialized wildland fire tools and equipment. There is no education substitution for this position at the GS-06 grade level.
IHC Specialized Experience - For the GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required, serving as a GS-05 wildland firefighter on a handcrew, wildland or prescribed fire module, as chainsaw operator (including maintenance and minor repairs), preparing and hooking longlines and external loads. Performs preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. 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. Education cannot be used to qualify for this grade level.
Veteran Crew Specialized Experience - For the GS-6: You must possess one (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: Serve as a senior wildland firefighter on a handcrew, or on a wildland or prescribed fire module. Perform the duties of a chainsaw operator and performs chainsaw maintenance and minor repair. Prepare and hook longlines and external loads. Perform all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Collect fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records
Fuels Specialized Experience - For GS-06: 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 is required, Served as a wildland firefighter on a handcrew or prescribed fire crew. Performs the duties of a fully qualified chain saw operator and chainsaw repair technician. Certified in the use of helicopter long lines. Performs all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Collects fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records. Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents. Responsible for operation and maintenance of specialized equipment used to respond to wildland and prescribed fire situations. Accomplishes emergency repairs as necessary to permit continued use of equipment.
Selective Placement Factor(s) GS-06 ONLY: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. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.
Requirement: This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. 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 www.ifpm.nifc.gov. To meet IFPM requirements for this position, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required):
Engine:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1),
Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290
IHC:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1)
S-211 Portable Pumps & Water Use
S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws
S-270 Basic Air Operations
S-290 Intermediate Fire Behavior
Veteran Crew:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1)
FAL3
Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290)
Fuels:
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1),
Intermediate Fire Behavior (S-290)
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.
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]