National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Interagency Fire Center Idaho National Park Service Fire Management Careers Looking for a job and/or a career which combines love of the land, science and technology skills, leadership and people skills? Then you may be the right person for a job or career in Fire Management in the National Park Service. There are many different specializations in the Smokejumper: Specialized, experienced NPS Fire Management Program, some of which firefighter who works as a team with other require special skills and training, and all of smokejumpers, parachuting into remote areas for which require enthusiasm and dedica tion. This initial attack on wildland fires. is a competitive arena which places physical and mental demands on employees. Helitack Crewmember: Serves as initial attack firefighter and support for helicopter opera tions Employees are hired for temporary and per­ on large fires. manent jobs, year round depending upon the area of the country. As an employee’s compe­ Fire Use Module Member: Serves as a crew­ tencies and skills develop, their opportunities to member working on prescribed fire, fuels advance in fire management increases. reduction projects, and fires that are managed for resource benefits. Positions Available Firefighter: Serves as a crewmember on a Dispatcher: Serves as central coordinator for handcrew, using a variety of specialized tools, relaying information regarding a fire as well as equipment, and techniques on wildland and pre­ ordering personnel and equipment. scribed fires. Job announcements for firefighter Fire Lookout: Serves as locator for fires in remote positions may be titled as Forestry Technician or locations and informs emergency response Range Technician. units of new fires. Please note that there are also positions as volunteer fire lookouts through the National Park Service Volunteers­In­Parks Program (VIP). Handcrew members use specialized firefighting tools, including the pulaski. Engine Crewmember: Serves on a fire crew that uses equipment associated with wildland fire Fire lookouts keep a watchful eye for new fires. engines, including pumps and hoses as well as traditional handcrew equipment. Communication and Education Specialist: Serves as media contact and educates the public about Hotshot: Experienced firefighter who works on a wildland fire as well as safety measures that may Hotshot Crew specializing in extended attack on be taken to protect prop erty from wildland fire. The Faces of Firefighting wildland fires. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA National Park Service Fire Management Careers 1 GIS Specialist: Uses satellite technology to map Pay and Benefits fire perimeters, vegetation areas, and other Employees are hired under the Federal Civil scientific studies. Service System. Pay ranges from about $10.00 per hour to over $17.00 per hour, depend ing upon Biological Technician / Fire Effects Monitor: the position and your experience. Firefighting Studies and collects data on the effects of fire positions are paid overtime for any hours worked on plants and animals in burned and unburned beyond the regular shift. areas. Temporary and permanent employees receive Biological technicians and fire effects Other Support Positions: Warehouse worker, sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays, and train­ monitors collect data from burned and administrative positions, management posi tions, unburned areas. ing. Permanent employees also receive health vehicle operators and other positions will be and life insurance and are covered by the Federal advertised under several job titles. Employee Retirement System. Some fire posi­ tions qualify for retirement after 20 years. Requirements Generally, unless a different minimum entry Where to Find Job Announcements age is contained in the standard or examination USAJobs – http://www.usajobs.opm.gov. announcement for a particular position, appli­ USAJobs is the official site for federal job cants for any position in the competitive service announcements. You may search for fire jobs as must be (1) at least 18 years old, or (2) at least 16 well as other federal jobs across multiple agencies years old and: and geographic areas. Each job announcement • Have graduated from high school or been will have specific information on how and where awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating to apply as well as who to contact if you have Fire management can be an exciting, rewarding career in the National Park from high school; or questions. Service with many opportunities. • Have completed a formal vocational training program; or Fire Integrated Recruitment Employment • Have received a statement from school Systems (FIRES) – http://www.firejobs.doi.gov/ authorities agreeing with their preference index.php?action=home. Under this hir ing pro­ for employment rather than continuing their cess you can select up to seven different fire job education; or locations within the Department of the Interior • Be currently enrolled in a secondary school using one application. and either work only during school vacation periods or work part­time during the school NPS Fire­Related Job Searches – You can find year under a formal student employment customized fire­related searches for employ ment program. with the National Park Service by begin ning at http://www.nps.gov/fire, then: An applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years • Click on the Employment link at the top of old to become a wildland firefighter. the page • Click on Job Search College coursework or a college degree aids in • Choose which type of search to do (if you being hired at a higher pay level. The course­ are looking for fire jobs and have no previ ous work or degree can be in a variety of fields, but federal employment, have not served in the many choose for estry, biology, natural resource military, and have no preferential hiring management, and the like, especially for wildland status, then choose National Park Service firefighting. If you are entering into the wildland Fire Jobs – Public Non­Status applicants) fire arena without any previous experience you • On the Employment page, you will also find may want to complete some basic classes locally, information on how to apply, the application which will increase your chances of being hired, forms, a brief description of the fire positions such as S­130 Firefighter Training and S­190 and a link to frequently asked questions. Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior. Contact your State Forestry agency or a nearby communi­ For more information, contact a specific national ty college to see if they offer any of these classes. park unit to learn more about their fire manage­ ment program and what jobs may be available Requirements vary by job so read the announce­ – http://www.nps.gov/fire and click on the link ment or contact the specific location where you for “Park Contact Information”. would like to work for more details. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA National Park Service Fire Management Careers 2.