Have you considered working as a
wildland firefighter? This field can be incredibly rewarding, but if you’re
hoping to make a life-long career out of it, it’s worth starting to plan for
the future now.
Many entry-level positions
require a high school diploma or an equivalent level of education, but as you
advance in the field, a bachelor’s degree or higher may be necessary. Take a
look at the information below to learn more about advancing in your career as a
wildland firefighter. Also, be sure to check out our blog post about job resources for wildland firefighters.
Overview of Wildland Firefighting Careers
Most entry-level wildland firefighters are hired as a GS-3 forestry technician, and you typically
need six months of general experience, such as volunteer firefighting. Often,
you’ll begin by working as a hand crew, hotshot, or engine crew member.
To hit a GS-4 level
position, you’ll need six months of specialized experience or two years of
education with coursework related to the field, such as a certificate or degree
in fire science. To earn a GS-5 level position, one year of specialized
experience or a bachelor’s degree related to the occupation is required.
As you advance from
entry-level positions, you must meet National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) standards at each interval. As an advanced structural firefighter, you
must meet NFPA standard 1001 for firefighter 2 or equivalency. As a driver,
operator, engineer, or company officer, you must meet NFPA standard 1021 for
fire officer 1 or equivalency. Finally, if you choose to serve as an
experienced lieutenant, captain, or chief officer, you must meet NFPA standard
1021 for fire officer or equivalency.
Career Paths in Wildland Firefighting
Once you’re ready to move
up, what positions are available to you?
Operations
After 1-5 years of experience in
an entry-level position, those firefighters who choose to stay in the
operations area may advance to a squad leader position as an engine or hand
crew member. In mid-career — between 6-10 years — you can become a crew
supervisor, fire operations specialist, and/or assistant fire operations
officer. As you get into the latter part of your career, you can secure a
position as a:
- Fire management officer
- Assistant fire staff officer
- Fire staff officer
Aviation
In your early career in aviation
firefighting, you can become a smokejumper, but as you gain more experience,
you may choose to advance to the level of:
- Helicopter module squad leader
- Smokejumper spotter
- Unit aviation officer
- Helicopter manager
- Pilot
After 10-25 years of experience,
you may choose to become a:
- Smokejumper base manager
- State/Regional aviation officer
- National aviation manager
Fuels
After your experience as a fuels
crew member or technician, firefighters in their early career may choose to
become a prescribed fire monitor. As time goes on, you may also advance to the
level of a prescribed fire manager or fuels planner in your mid-career. Those
firefighters in the fuels area may again choose to advance to become a state or
regional prescribed fire manager or a national fuels program manager in their
later career.
Dispatch
In the dispatch field, there are
many opportunities to work locally or with the National Interagency Fire Center
or at Geographic Area Coordination Centers. Jobs in the field include:
- Assistant centers manager
- Center manager
- Logistics coordinator
- Predictive services and intelligence
- Emergency operations coordinator
Is Career Advancement for Everyone?
While there are many career
advancement opportunities available to wildland firefighters, they aren’t for
everyone. For instance, to become a smokejumper, you must pass a physical
fitness test in which you complete seven pull-ups, 45 sit-ups, 25 push-ups, and
a 1.5 mile run in fewer than 11 minutes – which may not be attainable for every
wildland firefighter. Other firefighters work on a seasonal basis and may
choose to remain in their seasonal positions as long as they are physically
able.
Regardless of your strengths and
preferences, if you’d like to make a life-long career out of wildland
firefighting, the opportunity is there. Simply
identify the direction you’d like to go, and start working toward that
specialization.
What type of position would you
like to eventually hold in wildland firefighting?