the5ftfirefighter.com This is a really good website a friend told me about which will answer many questions first year firefighters and applicants typically have. I highly recommend you check it out.
This will be my third year trying to get hired on for the fire season. Each time I learn something knew about the application process, where to find listings, how to get your name out to the people that need to see it etc. I'm really hoping this year is the year because this is all I want to do and it sucks sitting at home watching the west burn down when you know you could be out there helping. Especially so when there are reports that many of the agencies don't have enough bodies to fill out crews. Just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful information as I would be even more lost without it.
In 1983-85 I was a wild land firefighter for California's CYA (California Youth Authority). They're now part of the CDCR (California Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation)... I was a troubled kid and it straightened me out, and I eventually was released, my record cleared, retired after 24 years in the US Army... I am now a County Firefighter in Ca... This is a good start if you want a career in FF.
Applied for the forestry technician apprentice about a month ago and just heard back recently for references from the forest service. Thanks for the pointers as I live on the east coast no one I talk to knowns anything about wildland. As of now I have a New York state EMT card, volly fire experience, and some of the FEMA courses.
@@gnarrdog Not yet, I was contacted for references and haven't heard anything since. I did some googling and the forest service fire hire event for 2021 isn't making any job offering/ interviews till january.
@@IxElite37Ix Ya it depends what region you applied to. They all have different timelines. If you can find your region's fire hire 2021 packet online you will know for sure. It sounds like you may have already done that.
Good video! I got my red card through CCC program back then and learn the basics there and then applied to every forest in California to get hired lol, good luck everyone!
@@idkhowboutu7569 The one lacated in San Diego. The CCC in San Bernardino is good too from what I heard as well since theirs a higher chance getting hire up there with CalFire
I recently gained an interest in Wildland Firefighting. I'm going to take your advice and complete both the 130 and 190 courses online and see what my options are from there. Definitely a helpful video, searching how to get into Wildland Firefighting and this video was the first to state a path
Depending on the program, you really might not need it. In Umatilla, they give those classes every year and if you already have them, you either sit through them again or you get to run the weed eater. Call where you want to work first and find out.
Good. Glad it helped! Ya where I was hired they gave me the classes too. They just wanted me to get done what I could before I showed up to speed up training.
Joe Ritz so let’s say I live in south Florida and I want to work out more in like the western states where more action happens just call and ask them what I need to get completed?
@@gnarrdog honestly it was just some off duty guys and local boys that I helped out with. Homemade type 6 trucks and it was great. Although now I'm a fft2 with Steelhead and its a blast. Currently we locked down a ground support gig to keep us extended later in the season. Day 11 on this roll going till the 28th. So ill get some rnr on the 13th or so
@@gnarrdog thanks man, on my rnr and got the call to prepare for cold weather. Looks like we are going to either wyoming or colorado to actually get on the line! So excited for a real roll
@@gnarrdog is there anyway I can contact you via Instagram twitter Facebook? I just applied to a bunch of jobs and I have a lot of questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the video. Its very detailed i hope its still applicable. Ill be moving from tx to ca. served in thr marines for 5 years but dont have any fire experience.ima give your tips a shot
I tried back in the 80's as a state Hot Shot from the RI Dept. of Environmental Management. It was a Who You Know" saturation. Forget about it. I applied to a private agency that wanted us to provide our own equipment and wanted to give us $6,00 an hour. I was getting that as a garbage man in 1988. I applied as am Asbestos Abatement Worker for $17.00 an hour. Goodbye Fire fighting career. So I became an Asbestos Worker full time and fought brush fires for an On-Call fire company in my state.
Hey Joe. Thank you for this informative video. I just had several questions and was wondering if you can help a brotha out. So I’m currently a junior at HSU and majoring in Forestry with a concentration on Wildland Fire Management. I have no previous fire experience and need to get some hours under my belt. You mentioned something about course 130 and 190 to be better qualified in the hiring process. Where can I find such courses? And any other words of advice you can offer. It’ll be much obliged. Thanks brotha
Edit: To clarify an overly confusing topic: If you get hired to an entry level position whether private or government, they should work with you to get your red card. Results may vary, I know from firsthand experience that some places will turn you away rather than put in the effort. No problem Noel. I am copying my message to another commenter. To get your red card you will still need to find some organization to give the pack test and assign your red card. So ideally take those online, have them done when you show up to work to save your boss time, then you will be ready to get your red card once you pass the pack test. But it all depends who is hiring you so ask your future boss for better clarification. S-130: www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-130/course-delivery S-190: www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-190/course-delivery And as far as words of advice go I would make sure to be dialed on the USA Jobs stuff if you want to work for the federal government. Have an extremely detailed resume. Highlight any leadership and supervision experience. Look at the wildfire reddit I posted above as you can probably find the answer to any possible hiring related question on there if you look hard enough. And also the link to the forest service FAQ I posted above. With a concentration in wildland fire management you will hopefully have a leg up in developing some contacts that can help you get hired.
@@gnarrdog thank you honestly I’ve been looking for some sort of mentor of advisor I know emt qualification is first and mandatory in California but after that I didn’t know where else to start
@@josephsimon3721 yup 👍 won’t guarantee you getting hired but it certainly helps. I got selected for a BLM handcrew last month; got certified back in September and this will be my first season. Applied to 50+ positions all over region 3 and only got the one spot. Getting your foot in the door is definitely the hardest part
I wonder if I could get a seasonal temp position again as 42 year old I was engineer 3560 3 sister OR. Toured with Redmond ihc Messed up my life went back to climbing trees. 😂. Now I am 40 and would be retired if I Hadn't got in that wreck a guy hit me on my way up to green ridge look out tower. Sent me off a hill slammed backward into a stump stopping my truck from going off a small cliff 😭. 😅😅
I have completed IS-100,IS-700, and IS-200 online through FEMA. What other courses do I need? Is it just S-130/190 or 180 and 100/110 as well and can I take 130/190 purely online? Any help is greatly appreciated. thanks
I’m 17, hoping next summer I can maybe get hired into a crew for some experience as I go into college . Any recommendations ? Where can I take these classes ? Thanks
If you are asking how fast could you start fighting fire after you're hired it would probably be like two weeks after your first day. After your pack test and other logistics things are done.
Is it normal to apply for a job far away from homestate? I live in Florida, currently no temp fire jobs are available in this state and the closest ones available are in Carolina. Geogia and Alabama happen to be filled as well. I'm willing to apply for a job far away but I just wasn't sure if that was something that was unadvised. Being away from home is not a problem for me. I took a Fire Standards class in Florida but along with that class they offered S-190 S-130 and the IS courses were required so I've got those, wasn't sure if there was anything else I needed before I started applying.
Hey I am a marine looking to get into wild land fire fighting once my contract is over. The corps will pay for me to go to school while I am in, what classes or degrees would be good to get for hot shot crews. If you have any other advice I would very much appreciate thanks .
EMT would be good. As far as relevant classes the corps could pay for I can't think of any besides EMT and whatever medical training you can get. As a veteran you will have veterans preference and be able to get on a shot crew your first season in fire most likely and even more so if you are an EMT. However you might have an easier transition to the fire culture if you start out on a vet crew where you will be able to learn about fire while working with other veterans. I know Aravaipa Hotshots ( blm.gov/arizona/fire/aravaipa-crew ) are a predominantly veteran crew. They have a good reputation. There is also Folsom Lake Hotshots that I don't know anything about ( www.nifc.gov/about-us/our-partners/blm/crews/folsom-lake-veterans-crew ). And there are handcrews as well: ( blm.gov/careers/veterans/veteran-fire-crews ). I get the impression that there are vets crews that get stuck doing a lot of fuels and project work. The hotshot crews won't be like that but with other crews you will want to be sure of what type of outfit you are signing up with. My additional piece of advice is that you will want to be a strong hiker.
little update. got my fema is100 and is700 done. flew threw s190 and got 1 more day of s130 and then our field days and I think I will have about a month of work this season ! but will be solid for next year.
@@brettappleby9311 I didn't start working for the forestry. Im working for a contractor and its been great. The fires are wrapping up but we landed ground support at icp and some other base camps in the complex so were out till end of October then hoping to get sent to Cali since we're only a couple hours from the border. Its way different seeing the logistics side of things
Chris Santos how hard is it getting a contractor job? Is it volunteer or are you being paid? And I live in California Just about in between LA and SAN Diego. I’m 18 and was just about to start fire science at my local community college to start my journey of hopefully becoming a structure firefighter. I know that’s a very competitive field but I’m also interested in wild land or contracting. How hard is it to get a job for a contractor, any tips or advice on what I should do next? Main goal is to eventually become a structure firefighter at a station in California preferably since I live here now.
Hey man! I’m curious to know if these units will hire with no fire background. I’m talking green as they come. Would they even give you a chance? I do have background in natural gas and hard labor experience. Thanks in advance !
Yes. Make your resume as relevant as possible and try to get in contact with engine captains or crew superintendents/captains. Hard labor experience is definitely relevant. Any mechanical experience you gained from working natural gas would be relevant too.
I have no idea if there is an age limit or if high school diploma is required. If I were to guess I would say no to both of those just because they probably won't have a way of checking for an online course.
Glad it helped. No fire experience required if you apply to the entry level positions which will usually be gs-3 or preferably gs-4 pay grade as of 2022. Things might change up in the future. Look for engine, hand crews (type 2) some others depending. Be aware that if you are not checking the right or enough boxes on the USA Jobs questionaire your app can be filtered out before it reaches a person. So for example if there is a box to check that is asking if you have used a shovel and somehow you have never used a shovel think really really hard before not checking that box because maybe you can remember a time when you did.
(im not old enough yet) But what do you do if your young, want to do this, but don't want to make it a career for life. My grandfather was a forest fire fighter and his father managed the pacific northwest firefighting effort. They all started in their early 20's and my grandfather stopped in his late 20's.
You are in luck because seasonal positions in the Forest Service are much easier to come by than permanent positions. Just get hired as a seasonal employee and you will be automatically laid off when the fire season ends which makes it pretty easy to just turn down rehire if you don't want it.
I can't recall. There are 3 I think. I will check when I get home. They only take an hour or two at most. Being an EMT will be very helpful in getting a job.
I checked my course list and the ones I have are ICS-100 (Introduction to ICS) and IS-700 (NIMS an Introduction). A non-FEMA but doable online and required class is L-180 Human Factors in WF Service. Not saying there aren't more required FEMA classes but that is what I have listed in my certs. So it seems like you probably have all the required FEMA stuff knocked out. But anyone reading this comment shouldn't worry too much about those FEMA classes until you get hired. They shouldn't mind having you knock them out online real quick after you are hired. My understanding is you don't need them before you are hired just before you get on the line. www.reddit.com/r/Wildfire/comments/frbckb/online_fema_courses/
100 and 700 for your FFT2. 200 and 800 are going to be required eventually for advanced positions like FFT1. If you have the time, get them out of the way and it’s one less thing on the checklist to do later.
Joe Ritz One mistake I made when doing the online classes is I tried to do L-180 first before completing 130 and 190. I had no foundation on concepts or terminology so it was extremely confusing. I don’t think it matters if 130 or 190 are completed before the other, but L-180 should definitely be done last in the online format.
Would I be allowed to use or provided a gas mask being a wildland firefighter? I'm worried about the consistent inhalation of smoke. I'm not suggesting SCBA but particulate filters and/or ABEK filters.
Yes you can use particulate filters if you want. I have used them on prescribed burns where you can be inhaling the most smoke of any situation. But you will inhale smoke no matter what you do. You might end up sleeping in an inversion so you are inhaling smoke while you sleep etc.
Thank you for keeping this up I am trying to apply I have done 110 up to 190 and more where does it end to get job? or what page? anyhow this is going to help Thank you.
Probably a dumb question but should we complete a wildland firefighter apprenticeship program before applying for any “actual” involved as a wildland firefighter or can we apply for any wildland firefighting jobs and receive training there?
Thank you for the video! Currently on a path for structural certification in FL but we got certed with S130/190 in the meantime. I opted to volunteer on my local counties wildland crew and hope to change paths and find a full time position out west. Do you think/feel my EMT certification and/or Veteran status will assist in having my application more likely viewed/accepted? Are there any other suggestions you have that I should consider (i.e going west for a season with a contractor to get additional XP)? Thanks!
There are full time positions in Florida as well so that is an option and having wildland fire experience in the south would definitely help you. Yes having both your EMT and being a veteran combined will make you a top candidate. On top of which Veterans Preference applies to most government jobs. I would say you could even apply to a hotshot crew your first season provided you consider yourself a good hiker. That's always a stretch first season but if you make some calls you could get it done. I would say that getting on a contractor out west wouldn't buy you anything over volunteering on the wildland crew in Florida and since you are already in Florida that might be easier for you this year. Firefighting experience in Florida is relevant and respected out West from what I have heard. Most fed fire jobs will be closed in March but you could look. Also there is such a thing as state crews and those may have positions open still but I don't know what the application process is although they can have a bit more flexibility with hiring. There is a state Hotshot crew in Utah called Alta Hotshots that you might try. Look for other state (Department of Natural Resources etc.) fire programs that still might be hiring if you are determined on getting out west this summer. Another thing to consider is that many wildland fire federal and state crews travel across the whole country as needed so even if you worked in Florida you could get on a crew that leaves the state frequently depending on the type of crew.
@@gnarrdog Dang man. This is the best, most detailed and applicable answer to my situation that I’ve gotten across Reddit, FB and Google. Thank you SO much. I will definitely take this advice and see what I can make happen, if not this summer, then I will be even better prepared with more experience for next. Hotshot would be the best case scenario as far as where I’d like to be, and seems most secure career and long term benefit wise. Thank you again man!
@@ajw8226 Sure thing! Heads up though it will probably take a few seasons to get a permanent position. You won't have any benefits with the feds whatsoever until you get a perm. Moving up in wildland fire tends to be very slow. Also it's a great job but it has very poor work life balance so many people find it doesn't work out as a career for them. Think six months of only working and not being home followed by six months of being unemployed/finding ways to keep busy. I don't want to discourage anyone but it is a very rough job on your personal life. I have seen a lot of people leave for more stability. So it's great that you have skills already to fall back on if it doesn't suit you. But the nice thing is you can be a seasonal for six months and if you don't like then you found out in six months and can do something else. Hotshotting is a good way to gain a lot of fire experience. But being on an engine, helitak, handcrew anything really will help you learn and often provide more abundant training opportunities to newer people than hotshot crews. Hotshot crews will provided new people with lots of knowledge training and practical training but career wise with certs and everything those opportunities are not abundant on IHC crews for new people. Not saying one is better just things to consider. Having made those points I have been on an IHC crew the past four seasons and my personal bias is that being a hotshot is where it's at for learning about fire and how to be an effective wildland firefighter.
I’m in the same place location wise and being late to the tee for hiring. Why do you say being on a contractor crew won’t get you anything vs staying in Florida and joining the wildland crew here? I was planning on going out to Montana anyways this summer in my camper van and just stumbled across wildland firefighting and that’s what I want to do. Most people on reddit are telling me to try Rocky Mountain Fire Co or grayback or another state like Washington/Oregon. What would you suggest contractor crew in the state I want to be in or a different state this year but fed job. My initial feeling is to just pack up right now head to Montana and start going and try to find a job that way in person.
Hey man, I understand this video is a year old now. But I didn’t make the pack test at my local wildfire station. But we have another one in my town (they both work together) should I give them a shot? Thanks for the info.
Without knowing the specifics I will say yes I don't see why not. I really only know about the Forest Service and not much about the workings of the municipal departments. I do know that structure firefighters can get red carded and go on wild fires if their department is set up for that.
Search on USAjobs.gov but you might not find much because February is pretty late to be looking for the season. Jobs apps typically for the next fire season can open anywhere from mid August to mid December and stay open from maybe two weeks to a month. Most people start as seasonals. Much of the federal wildland firefighting workforce is seasonal. You can check what opportunities your state or county has.
I’m starting from scratch to try and become a Wildland firefighter in California. So I can apply for an entry level job with just the 2 courses you recommended in the beginning?
Yes. You can apply without any courses. But you should try to take what you can online to show intiative. You will probably end up taking them again but it is good to show some things you are doing to prepare. I'm going to make a video related to this topic at some point because it is a point of confusion for a lot of people.
As a Marine coming out of Active Duty soon I have been wanting to join the wildland firefighters and hopefully go farther from that but for now this is what I been wanting to do does military experience help with these?
You will have veteran's preference for government jobs so that will help a bit. So if you apply for an engine, hand crews (type 2), helitack, at gs-4 level maybe gs-5 as well (read the requirements) and apply to multiple positions and locations you will have a good chance. Jobs are accepting applications for next season now and new ones will be opening up soon so start applying now. There are vet crew fire programs out there as well and those can get your foot in the door to move onto a hotshot crew or other fire position. I don't know how to get on a vet crew but I can confirm they are around in the south west and I don't know where else. I think taking an entry level fire job with feds if you can get it is a better way to go than the vet crew if you want to work for the feds. I would bet that for most who get weeded out in the application process it is because they don't follow the instructions on USA jobs applications such as not submitting required documents or because they only applied for jobs they don't meet the requirements for (which I have done on accident).
I put my application in for years. They could never find it. I think you have to know somebody, it's very political, and where I live there is a lot of discrimination.
Not impossible, but does add some extra hurdles. If possible, go to a community college for some fire science or forestry classes. Any education helps check another box putting you in front of other people. Also, any medical experience helps. If you can get your EMT, they like that.
Well Greg what you have said there describes me when I started in fire. Like Nick said it adds hurdles but they are not insurmountable. For wildland fire in the Forest Service college isn't necessary but could help a bit. Most of the firefighters on my crew don't have a higher education degree. I'm glad I have a degree for if I want to do something else in the Forest Service.
@@jaheenbrasko1755 I have no idea. But most programs should be willing to give you the trainings I was talking about after you get hired. Some won't some will. Sort of a complicated subject because it can go either way.
You could try a fire department. They sometimes do wildland stuff. Other than that I only know of options where you would unfortunately have to be paid to work.
@@st33lwill22 I want the experience mostly. Sure a lot of hard work in exchange for skills working as an Aborist. I mean not really like I can go to college and ask for a degree to fight fires cut trees manage soils and a ton of elbow grease. Not stuff you can learn in text book or online. You only learn from this type of work.
Well if you turn 18 before this summer that would help. I think most regions of the Forest Service have finished hiring for the 2021 season by now. However you can find private forestry companies that do contract firefighting for the Forest service if you do turn 18 soon. Any firefighting experience would help you get into the Forest Service for wildland fire for the 2022 season. You could work on becoming an EMT. If you don't get hired this season don't get down. I didn't start until I was 25 and in 4 seasons I have only met one 18 year old firefighter so it's not too common. Just stay productive.
So I’m in the navy as of now and when I get out. I would like to be a hotshot. What would be the best way on going about that? And is it common for military personnel to go in this profession?
Probably just apply for fire jobs on USA Jobs. Apply for hotshot jobs and other fire jobs. You might be able to get on a hotshot crew right away or maybe not. But once you have a fire season under your belt combined with being a veteran that would give you a very high chance of getting on a hotshot crew at least by your second season. There is Veterans Preference for federal jobs. There are veterans fire crews you can work for for a winter and that is looked highly upon at least on the crew I'm on which will hire interested people right from those crews. I don't remember the names of any of the veterans crews and I don't know the application process but I'll do a bit of research and maybe leave another comment here.
I applied for multiple BLM jobs as a GS3, I was in the private sector for two months this year at the end of the season, decided I wanted to go with the feds. I didnt have 6 months GS3 experience or 1 year of college so it put me at GS3, is it difficult to get hired at the GS3 level?
I'm sort of confused by your question because it could be taken in two ways. If someone meets the requirements of a gs-4 I don't think aiming for the same job on a gs-3 level will improve their chances (aka be easier) much provided it is the same position. On the other hand if applying for gs-3 positions allows you to apply for more locations then yes maybe that will improve your chances (be easier). I was a gs-3 at first even though I was qualified to be a gs-4 but I didn't know any better and of course no one gave me any guidance on that until I was already working. Are you sure you don't qualify to apply for gs-4? I think you just need 6 months of experience "equivalent" to the gs-3 level. So if you can come up with 4 more months of gs-3 level stuff you did AKA menial labor using different tools you will probably be able to qualify as a gs-4. Regardless of the gs level the hardest part of getting hired is figuring out the job application process that the government wants you to go through.
whats up man, I applied early october and havent heard anything back and today is the 28th of novermber, just wondering how long you think it usually think it takes for them to get back to you, if they get back to you at al
If you make it through the screening system and are referrered to the hiring managers you will get an email. If you are not referred you will also get an email. If the hiring managers decide to hire you, you may get an interest call and finally a job offer. If they decide not to hire you, you might not get an email until a year later when they are clearing out back logs. This is for the federal land management agencies.
Hi Joe I've been trying to join since last September. I've started my fire science classes in 2019. Now are the NWCG s-130 classes free? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Yes you can take s-130 online and before that you need to take s-190. I don't think you can complete it solely online but you can do most of the course online and and then find an organization doing the one or two field days and finish off the course. When I joined the forest service my engine boss told me to complete as much as I could of the online before work and then I could finish it when I got to work.
So I'm a 20 year old Male from Virginia and really want to be a wildland firefighter so where should I start like should I go to college, volunteer at the local fire department I just dont know
You should probably just apply to jobs on usajobs.gov or look up different contract crews like grayback forestry to get a start. I don't think a degree is helpful if all you want to do is be a wildland firefighter. If you want to one day do other things in the forest service then it would become useful. As far as volunteering at the fire department goes it could help I'm not sure how much exactly. You just need to apply for wildland jobs and have a decent resume. If you don't get in your first season of applying probably the volunteer firefighter and get an EMT certification route would help. I'm editing this to add that you need to make calls to where you want to get hired. Networking to the best of your ability is a big deal. Everyone prefers to work with people who have shown interest and called to ask questions and tell a bit about themselves.
I’m from phoenix Az any idea where I get my red card here. Or what classes I take and where I can take them? Also what’s the pt requirements. Any advice Is greatly appreciated.
S-130/S-190. The other part of getting red card is the pack test administered by an organization that is authorized to provide red cards. If you go to academy you can get s-130/s-190 and may meet people who can help you get a job. Here is one in Prescott which is less than two hours from you and I found pretty quickly on Google: www.azwildfireacademy.org/event/3897d815-842d-47e5-beb2-373ad6a364de/summary More info: www.coloradofirecamp.com/frequent-questions/red-card.html Call or email them to see if there is anything else you need for red card I'm just some random guy.
TLDR: Wildland firefighters are heavily dependent on overtime to make decent money. I'm not going to give you a straight answer about how much I made each year because it is irrelevant to how much you will make. There is not a solid number that anyone can guarantee you. As a gs-4 in 2020 my annual salary was $31,208. That's not what I made but is what my annual salary was. This year as a gs-5 my annual salary was $35,265. One factor to consider here is that you are only working six months so you might think you will make half that. But Wildland firefighters make all their money working overtime. Off the top of my head my OT hours on my hotshot crew have been about: 1,200 hours in 18', 950 hours in 19', 800 hours in 20', and 1,250 hrs in 21'. On my engine when I first started in 17' I got 730 hrs of OT. So all those hours are at 1.5x my base pay and on top of my 40hrs at base rate. We only get OT when we are on fires so there is usually hazard pay unless it is a prescribed burn. So ask wherever you are going what a typical season is and what your base pay is and you will be able to approximate how much you might make.
Let me tell you something as an experience wildland fire fighter it's not for everyone you will have to WORK Buddy an be prepared to not take a SHOWER O-O for a few day's
Basically just block out six months of your life that you will not have personal time. At the beginning of the season you might be able to go home every night but once you start going to fires you will be gone two weeks at a time not counting travel days. And when you are on a fire you eat, work, sleep. That's pretty much the schedule. After 14 days on fire your crew is eligible for R&R when you get home. So you will have two days in which you can leave the two hour call back window and not worry.
There are online classes you could take to speed up the on boarding process. Look in my replies to comments here and I shared some links with other people. There are some wild land firefighting academies. I am not too familiar with them. There is no training that will guarantee you a job. Frankly the online classes are good on paper only and will give you very little preparation for the real work. The classroom classes I have taken are a bit better. You can get this job without any classes.
If you want more detailed info searching on reddit.com/r/wildfire is a good source for hiring tips and general questions. If you search around there for a few minutes you will probably be able to find the answers to your questions. Below I'm posting a link to a Forest Service FAQ, but note that even though on page 2 it says you must be an FFT1 (Firefighter Type 1) to get a job this is not true for seasonal positions. Although it is not made clear in the FAQ I can tell that the section about what qualifications you need to be hired is geared towards obtaining a permanent position rather than a seasonal position. But the rest of the guide seems to be written towards people who have no federal fire experience. There is also a number in the guide that they encourage you to call for further clarifications. Forest Service Wildland FAQ: www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_wysiwyg/ff_job_application_faq.pdf
I have 3 years exp. as a volunteer firefighter, 5 years as a public safety officer/dispatcher. Would this experienced speed up my chances of getting hired?
@@nickv2463 That experience would increase your chances of getting hired. How you present your experience matters a lot. So put on your resume how while you were a firefighter how you may have invested in new employees and any leadership/supervisor experience. The more things you can show that you did as a firefighter the better. As far as USA Jobs goes, if it's not on your resume it never happened.
You could apply for jobs on forests in New Mexico if you are willing to be a few hours from home. Other than that I put a few places you could check in other comments, the video description and in the video.
Ya do your best to find out who will be making the hiring decision and talk to them. Some regions are different than others and it seems to change slightly every year as far as who makes the decision and who has input. I'm not an expert this is just from what I overhear and read.
I think that following up would be good for an apprenticeship position especially. Because whoever hires you will be making the decision to stick with you for a while as opposed to a seasonal employee who they can get rid of easier (in my estimation). So they will likely be much more apprehensive to hire an unknown apprentice than an unknown seasonal.
Yes I did. It was a bit odd at first. We worked for a week like normal and then went into a reporting from home mode. So those of us who live off base rarely went to the base. There was no prescribed burning in order to avoid gathering resources, which usually takes up our first month. Not being able to do prescribed burning cut our hours a bit. As far as fires go it was pretty similar to previous years. The main change was the lack of big base camps and more emphasis on spiking out in the field by ourselves or even getting hotel rooms when possible.
@@gnarrdog could you send me an email at dekenippd@gmail.com I would love to talk further about what its like daily to work on a crew and ask more questions
GS stands for general schedule. Basically this is your pay grade. With higher GS levels comes more responsibility and more pay. www.opm.gov/faqs/QA.aspx?fid=de14aff4-4f77-4e17-afaa-fa109430fc7b&pid=39c889e9-b372-4d97-b2e4-8497cdfded65
Yes, you can take the classes and put on your resume that you did. But to get your red card you will still need to find some organization to give the pack test and assign your red card. So ideally take those online, have them done when you show up to work to save your boss time, then you will be ready to get your red card once you pass the pack test. But it all depends who is hiring you so ask your future boss for better clarification. S-130: www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-130/course-delivery S-190: www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-190/course-delivery
It's a lot harder to got on a shot crew without any wildland experience. You can always apply but you'll probably need to work at least one season on another wildland program such as a handcrew, engine, helitack. Also try to talk to the programs you are applying to. If you are a veteran or an EMT that will improve your chances significantly. It comes down to your experience vs someone else's when they are looking through resumes. Certainly there's more to it but I think those are some key points.
As far as the Forest Service: "Must be under the age of 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of federal service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position - OR- a veterans preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement." www.fs.usda.gov › filesPDF (FAQs) about Becoming a Forest Service Wildland Firefighter I think this refers to permanent positions and you can still apply as a seasonal employee but I'm not sure.
I have a few questions but would it be possible to send them to you through Gmail or something? I'm 19 and I'm currently going to college but honestly, I don't know if it helps in the long run. Let me know and thank you.
Copy paste from the Park Service Website: Incident Qualifications The Incident Qualification Card, commonly called a Red Card, is an accepted interagency certification that a person is qualified to do the required job when arriving on an incident. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group sets minimum training, experience, and physical fitness standards for wildland fire positions. Incident Qualification Cards are issued to individuals who successfully complete the required training, experience, and physical fitness (work capacity) test by the firefighting agencies that are members of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. In place of Incident Qualification Cards, local and rural firefighting agencies may issue letters of certification stating that the individuals have met the appropriate physical fitness, experience, and training standards. Obtaining a Qualifications Card If you do not have an Incident Qualification Card (Red Card), there are several steps to go through: Discuss your interest in fire with your immediate supervisor to obtain permission to pursue the training and other requirements, as well as go on incidents (many incidents are during the summer when visitor traffic to parks is at its peak). Speak with, or have your supervisor speak with, the fire management officer (FMO) at your park about your interest. If your park is small, it may not have a full-time FMO. In this case you would typically speak to a collateral-duty FMO, as well as your regional fire management officer. See what trainings are necessary in your area of interest; some may be web-based self-study courses that may be completed at your home unit. The Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification Guide (310-1) is the main source for the requirements for various positions. Work with your local Incident Qualifications and Certification System (IQCS) account manager to make sure your training and qualifications information is up-to-date and accurate so they can print you an Incident Qualification Card (Red Card).
If you like fighting fire from the side of a road that is fine. In all seriousness to anyone reading this Cal Fire might be a good option for you. They are known to pay better and treat their employees well. And you might even get the opportunity to watch a hotshot crew hike in!
the5ftfirefighter.com
This is a really good website a friend told me about which will answer many questions first year firefighters and applicants typically have. I highly recommend you check it out.
th-cam.com/video/i9aNSlDQ5v4/w-d-xo.html #SLM #SawyerLivesMatter
#ChainsawSafety #TreesNotCoEds
#PeopleWhoWorkWithChainsawsArePeopleToo #DownWithWildFires
Thank you so much I’ve been reading up on this site it’s great and has helped a lot !
Can I wear custom boots that are a mix of a engineer boot and tanker boot ,the boots have straps not laces for tightening the boot ?
This will be my third year trying to get hired on for the fire season. Each time I learn something knew about the application process, where to find listings, how to get your name out to the people that need to see it etc. I'm really hoping this year is the year because this is all I want to do and it sucks sitting at home watching the west burn down when you know you could be out there helping. Especially so when there are reports that many of the agencies don't have enough bodies to fill out crews. Just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful information as I would be even more lost without it.
Sure thing. Hopefully you get in this year. I can give you my email if you want me to look over your resume.
It literally seems to change every year.
In 1983-85 I was a wild land firefighter for California's CYA (California Youth Authority). They're now part of the CDCR (California Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation)... I was a troubled kid and it straightened me out, and I eventually was released, my record cleared, retired after 24 years in the US Army... I am now a County Firefighter in Ca...
This is a good start if you want a career in FF.
You have to take a 190 and 130 online only? How
Going into my 3rd season. Was with a contract crew then a state agency. Just applied for my first fed job...... It was hell. Well lets hope i get it!
How do you apply or what qualifications do I need
Applied for the forestry technician apprentice about a month ago and just heard back recently for references from the forest service. Thanks for the pointers as I live on the east coast no one I talk to knowns anything about wildland. As of now I have a New York state EMT card, volly fire experience, and some of the FEMA courses.
Glad it helped! Did they come back with an offer?
@@gnarrdog Not yet, I was contacted for references and haven't heard anything since. I did some googling and the forest service fire hire event for 2021 isn't making any job offering/ interviews till january.
@@IxElite37Ix Ya it depends what region you applied to. They all have different timelines. If you can find your region's fire hire 2021 packet online you will know for sure. It sounds like you may have already done that.
Hey @@gnarrdog i'm on my first year of applications, do you have any recommendations for training or any study sheets to help out a bit?
I did it Thanks to you for 2023 season.
Good video! I got my red card through CCC program back then and learn the basics there and then applied to every forest in California to get hired lol, good luck everyone!
Thanks for the input! More than one path to get to the end goal.
Hey what ccc did you join?
@@idkhowboutu7569 The one lacated in San Diego. The CCC in San Bernardino is good too from what I heard as well since theirs a higher chance getting hire up there with CalFire
I was also in the ccc working with cal fire
@@JayyWess How difficult was it to get on a fire crew in the CCC?
I'm being sent to Tennessee for forestry conservation and fire fighting, originally from Texas and I am veterinary student
I recently gained an interest in Wildland Firefighting. I'm going to take your advice and complete both the 130 and 190 courses online and see what my options are from there.
Definitely a helpful video, searching how to get into Wildland Firefighting and this video was the first to state a path
Depending on the program, you really might not need it. In Umatilla, they give those classes every year and if you already have them, you either sit through them again or you get to run the weed eater. Call where you want to work first and find out.
@@grantmonge4356 Thanks for the heads up, will do.
Good. Glad it helped! Ya where I was hired they gave me the classes too. They just wanted me to get done what I could before I showed up to speed up training.
Joe Ritz so let’s say I live in south Florida and I want to work out more in like the western states where more action happens just call and ask them what I need to get completed?
Thank you for this video. Been out volunteering on the riverside fire in oregon and I am absolutely hooked.
Nice! What type of organization are you volunteering for and how did you get the opportunity?
@@gnarrdog honestly it was just some off duty guys and local boys that I helped out with. Homemade type 6 trucks and it was great. Although now I'm a fft2 with Steelhead and its a blast. Currently we locked down a ground support gig to keep us extended later in the season. Day 11 on this roll going till the 28th. So ill get some rnr on the 13th or so
@@CuttinChris That's a pretty cool way to get into it! Good luck out there.
@@gnarrdog thanks man, on my rnr and got the call to prepare for cold weather. Looks like we are going to either wyoming or colorado to actually get on the line! So excited for a real roll
@@gnarrdog is there anyway I can contact you via Instagram twitter Facebook? I just applied to a bunch of jobs and I have a lot of questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you foe this! Im a training volunteer fire fighter right now and I am wanting to go further. I feel like I found my calling
Thanks for the video. Its very detailed i hope its still applicable. Ill be moving from tx to ca. served in thr marines for 5 years but dont have any fire experience.ima give your tips a shot
Extremely helpful, thank you
Thank you so much! This will help greatly
Thanks for the upload man
Thanks for the info! ive been wanting to do it for awhile now and had no idea where to start.
I tried back in the 80's as a state Hot Shot from the RI Dept. of Environmental Management. It was a Who You Know" saturation. Forget about it. I applied to a private agency that wanted us to provide our own equipment and wanted to give us $6,00 an hour. I was getting that as a garbage man in 1988. I applied as am Asbestos Abatement Worker for $17.00 an hour. Goodbye Fire fighting career. So I became an Asbestos Worker full time and fought brush fires for an On-Call fire company in my state.
Good man. Thanks for the pointers.
No problem 👍
So helpful, thank you
LCES STANDARD REMEMBER IT AN KEEP YOUR RESPONSE GUIDE ON YOU AT ALL TIMES WHEN IN THE FIELD
Hey Joe. Thank you for this informative video. I just had several questions and was wondering if you can help a brotha out. So I’m currently a junior at HSU and majoring in Forestry with a concentration on Wildland Fire Management. I have no previous fire experience and need to get some hours under my belt. You mentioned something about course 130 and 190 to be better qualified in the hiring process. Where can I find such courses? And any other words of advice you can offer. It’ll be much obliged. Thanks brotha
Edit: To clarify an overly confusing topic: If you get hired to an entry level position whether private or government, they should work with you to get your red card. Results may vary, I know from firsthand experience that some places will turn you away rather than put in the effort.
No problem Noel. I am copying my message to another commenter. To get your red card you will still need to find some organization to give the pack test and assign your red card. So ideally take those online, have them done when you show up to work to save your boss time, then you will be ready to get your red card once you pass the pack test. But it all depends who is hiring you so ask your future boss for better clarification.
S-130: www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-130/course-delivery
S-190:
www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-190/course-delivery
And as far as words of advice go I would make sure to be dialed on the USA Jobs stuff if you want to work for the federal government. Have an extremely detailed resume. Highlight any leadership and supervision experience. Look at the wildfire reddit I posted above as you can probably find the answer to any possible hiring related question on there if you look hard enough. And also the link to the forest service FAQ I posted above. With a concentration in wildland fire management you will hopefully have a leg up in developing some contacts that can help you get hired.
Joe Ritz I appreciate the info mate 🙏
You’ll need a couple of FEMA classes too. IS-100 and IS-700. Those can be done online on the FEMA website.
@@gnarrdog thank you honestly I’ve been looking for some sort of mentor of advisor I know emt qualification is first and mandatory in California but after that I didn’t know where else to start
Awesome !! Thank you!
What Website did you use for the S130 & S190 ? Thank you sir
FEMA
go to the nwcg site, you can take all the classes you need for FFT2 certification online
@@bhamlax6 you can just take them online and get certified??? That easy???
@@josephsimon3721 yup 👍 won’t guarantee you getting hired but it certainly helps. I got selected for a BLM handcrew last month; got certified back in September and this will be my first season. Applied to 50+ positions all over region 3 and only got the one spot. Getting your foot in the door is definitely the hardest part
I wonder if I could get a seasonal temp position again as 42 year old
I was engineer 3560 3 sister OR.
Toured with Redmond ihc
Messed up my life went back to climbing trees. 😂. Now I am 40 and would be retired if I Hadn't got in that wreck a guy hit me on my way up to green ridge look out tower. Sent me off a hill slammed backward into a stump stopping my truck from going off a small cliff 😭. 😅😅
Came to California from Florida to work in wildland firefighter but need help don’t know much I’m in my academy for firefighter 1
I agree application process is neither easy or fair
I would love for you to look over my resume I have applied everywhere and don't know my chances of getting hired for the 2023 fire season.
I sent you a message
I have completed IS-100,IS-700, and IS-200 online through FEMA. What other courses do I need? Is it just S-130/190 or 180 and 100/110 as well and can I take 130/190 purely online? Any help is greatly appreciated. thanks
I’m 17, hoping next summer I can maybe get hired into a crew for some experience as I go into college . Any recommendations ? Where can I take these classes ? Thanks
FEMA is where to begin with your courses online I think
So starting from ground zero, how fast (considering they hire you) could you start
If you are asking how fast could you start fighting fire after you're hired it would probably be like two weeks after your first day. After your pack test and other logistics things are done.
@@gnarrdog ok thank you
Defends where you are located
Is it normal to apply for a job far away from homestate? I live in Florida, currently no temp fire jobs are available in this state and the closest ones available are in Carolina. Geogia and Alabama happen to be filled as well. I'm willing to apply for a job far away but I just wasn't sure if that was something that was unadvised. Being away from home is not a problem for me.
I took a Fire Standards class in Florida but along with that class they offered S-190 S-130 and the IS courses were required so I've got those, wasn't sure if there was anything else I needed before I started applying.
Yes that is very common for seasonal forest service employees. The job description will hopefully tell you what you need to qualify.
Hey I am a marine looking to get into wild land fire fighting once my contract is over. The corps will pay for me to go to school while I am in, what classes or degrees would be good to get for hot shot crews. If you have any other advice I would very much appreciate thanks .
EMT would be good. As far as relevant classes the corps could pay for I can't think of any besides EMT and whatever medical training you can get. As a veteran you will have veterans preference and be able to get on a shot crew your first season in fire most likely and even more so if you are an EMT. However you might have an easier transition to the fire culture if you start out on a vet crew where you will be able to learn about fire while working with other veterans. I know Aravaipa Hotshots ( blm.gov/arizona/fire/aravaipa-crew ) are a predominantly veteran crew. They have a good reputation. There is also Folsom Lake Hotshots that I don't know anything about ( www.nifc.gov/about-us/our-partners/blm/crews/folsom-lake-veterans-crew ). And there are handcrews as well: ( blm.gov/careers/veterans/veteran-fire-crews ). I get the impression that there are vets crews that get stuck doing a lot of fuels and project work. The hotshot crews won't be like that but with other crews you will want to be sure of what type of outfit you are signing up with. My additional piece of advice is that you will want to be a strong hiker.
Holy shit. Just found a forestry tech job full time 45 minutes away from my house open for apps now... time to make my resume look good!
Got my pack test on Monday and 5 days of class!! Wahoo boys here we go!
little update. got my fema is100 and is700 done. flew threw s190 and got 1 more day of s130 and then our field days and I think I will have about a month of work this season ! but will be solid for next year.
Chris Santos how was the process? Did you have any past experience or college credits? Or was it just because you were simply that close.
@@brettappleby9311 I didn't start working for the forestry. Im working for a contractor and its been great. The fires are wrapping up but we landed ground support at icp and some other base camps in the complex so were out till end of October then hoping to get sent to Cali since we're only a couple hours from the border. Its way different seeing the logistics side of things
Chris Santos how hard is it getting a contractor job? Is it volunteer or are you being paid? And I live in California Just about in between LA and SAN Diego. I’m 18 and was just about to start fire science at my local community college to start my journey of hopefully becoming a structure firefighter. I know that’s a very competitive field but I’m also interested in wild land or contracting. How hard is it to get a job for a contractor, any tips or advice on what I should do next? Main goal is to eventually become a structure firefighter at a station in California preferably since I live here now.
Hey there is five classes know by the way the l-180
Thanks! It has been a while.
Hey man! I’m curious to know if these units will hire with no fire background. I’m talking green as they come. Would they even give you a chance? I do have background in natural gas and hard labor experience. Thanks in advance !
Look into Grayback, do a season with them and it will open up so many other opportunities
Yes you can definitely get hired with no experience! Highlight some of the crossover stuff in resume. Like being fit from your work etc
Yes. Make your resume as relevant as possible and try to get in contact with engine captains or crew superintendents/captains. Hard labor experience is definitely relevant. Any mechanical experience you gained from working natural gas would be relevant too.
Being willing to work in the middle of nowhere is helpful. The more urban-centered your duty station is, the more popular and competitive.
do you need to be over the age of 18 or have a high school diploma for the s130 and s190 courses? I'm 15 and want to pursue wildland firefighting.
I have no idea if there is an age limit or if high school diploma is required. If I were to guess I would say no to both of those just because they probably won't have a way of checking for an online course.
ok thank you@@gnarrdog
If your taking s130 from a college or something they most likely will allow you to take it.
You need to be over 18, and have at least a High school diploma or GED.
going to fire academy help with wild land fire fighting
Great vid it was a lot of help. Is there a requirement for past firefighting experience or volunteer work?
Glad it helped. No fire experience required if you apply to the entry level positions which will usually be gs-3 or preferably gs-4 pay grade as of 2022. Things might change up in the future. Look for engine, hand crews (type 2) some others depending. Be aware that if you are not checking the right or enough boxes on the USA Jobs questionaire your app can be filtered out before it reaches a person. So for example if there is a box to check that is asking if you have used a shovel and somehow you have never used a shovel think really really hard before not checking that box because maybe you can remember a time when you did.
(im not old enough yet) But what do you do if your young, want to do this, but don't want to make it a career for life. My grandfather was a forest fire fighter and his father managed the pacific northwest firefighting effort. They all started in their early 20's and my grandfather stopped in his late 20's.
You are in luck because seasonal positions in the Forest Service are much easier to come by than permanent positions. Just get hired as a seasonal employee and you will be automatically laid off when the fire season ends which makes it pretty easy to just turn down rehire if you don't want it.
@@gnarrdog Thanks for the feedback it really helps me!
Do you know what FEMA courses are required? I'm a working EMT, and have ICS-100/200/300/700/05 done already.
I can't recall. There are 3 I think. I will check when I get home. They only take an hour or two at most. Being an EMT will be very helpful in getting a job.
I checked my course list and the ones I have are ICS-100 (Introduction to ICS) and IS-700 (NIMS an Introduction). A non-FEMA but doable online and required class is L-180 Human Factors in WF Service. Not saying there aren't more required FEMA classes but that is what I have listed in my certs. So it seems like you probably have all the required FEMA stuff knocked out. But anyone reading this comment shouldn't worry too much about those FEMA classes until you get hired. They shouldn't mind having you knock them out online real quick after you are hired. My understanding is you don't need them before you are hired just before you get on the line.
www.reddit.com/r/Wildfire/comments/frbckb/online_fema_courses/
100 and 700 for your FFT2. 200 and 800 are going to be required eventually for advanced positions like FFT1. If you have the time, get them out of the way and it’s one less thing on the checklist to do later.
Joe Ritz One mistake I made when doing the online classes is I tried to do L-180 first before completing 130 and 190. I had no foundation on concepts or terminology so it was extremely confusing. I don’t think it matters if 130 or 190 are completed before the other, but L-180 should definitely be done last in the online format.
Would I be allowed to use or provided a gas mask being a wildland firefighter? I'm worried about the consistent inhalation of smoke. I'm not suggesting SCBA but particulate filters and/or ABEK filters.
Yes you can use particulate filters if you want. I have used them on prescribed burns where you can be inhaling the most smoke of any situation. But you will inhale smoke no matter what you do. You might end up sleeping in an inversion so you are inhaling smoke while you sleep etc.
@@gnarrdog thank you
Thank you for keeping this up I am trying to apply I have done 110 up to 190 and more where does it end to get job? or what page? anyhow this is going to help Thank you.
Hey joe!
Im currently attempting my S 190.
What tips can you give for passing?
Ya you can take each section as many times as you like
Probably a dumb question but should we complete a wildland firefighter apprenticeship program before applying for any “actual” involved as a wildland firefighter or can we apply for any wildland firefighting jobs and receive training there?
No just apply for entry level wildland jobs. If you apply for entry level jobs they should train you when you start.
Thank you for the video! Currently on a path for structural certification in FL but we got certed with S130/190 in the meantime. I opted to volunteer on my local counties wildland crew and hope to change paths and find a full time position out west. Do you think/feel my EMT certification and/or Veteran status will assist in having my application more likely viewed/accepted? Are there any other suggestions you have that I should consider (i.e going west for a season with a contractor to get additional XP)? Thanks!
There are full time positions in Florida as well so that is an option and having wildland fire experience in the south would definitely help you. Yes having both your EMT and being a veteran combined will make you a top candidate. On top of which Veterans Preference applies to most government jobs. I would say you could even apply to a hotshot crew your first season provided you consider yourself a good hiker. That's always a stretch first season but if you make some calls you could get it done. I would say that getting on a contractor out west wouldn't buy you anything over volunteering on the wildland crew in Florida and since you are already in Florida that might be easier for you this year. Firefighting experience in Florida is relevant and respected out West from what I have heard. Most fed fire jobs will be closed in March but you could look. Also there is such a thing as state crews and those may have positions open still but I don't know what the application process is although they can have a bit more flexibility with hiring. There is a state Hotshot crew in Utah called Alta Hotshots that you might try. Look for other state (Department of Natural Resources etc.) fire programs that still might be hiring if you are determined on getting out west this summer. Another thing to consider is that many wildland fire federal and state crews travel across the whole country as needed so even if you worked in Florida you could get on a crew that leaves the state frequently depending on the type of crew.
@@gnarrdog Dang man. This is the best, most detailed and applicable answer to my situation that I’ve gotten across Reddit, FB and Google. Thank you SO much. I will definitely take this advice and see what I can make happen, if not this summer, then I will be even better prepared with more experience for next. Hotshot would be the best case scenario as far as where I’d like to be, and seems most secure career and long term benefit wise. Thank you again man!
@@ajw8226 Sure thing! Heads up though it will probably take a few seasons to get a permanent position. You won't have any benefits with the feds whatsoever until you get a perm. Moving up in wildland fire tends to be very slow. Also it's a great job but it has very poor work life balance so many people find it doesn't work out as a career for them. Think six months of only working and not being home followed by six months of being unemployed/finding ways to keep busy. I don't want to discourage anyone but it is a very rough job on your personal life. I have seen a lot of people leave for more stability. So it's great that you have skills already to fall back on if it doesn't suit you. But the nice thing is you can be a seasonal for six months and if you don't like then you found out in six months and can do something else. Hotshotting is a good way to gain a lot of fire experience. But being on an engine, helitak, handcrew anything really will help you learn and often provide more abundant training opportunities to newer people than hotshot crews. Hotshot crews will provided new people with lots of knowledge training and practical training but career wise with certs and everything those opportunities are not abundant on IHC crews for new people. Not saying one is better just things to consider. Having made those points I have been on an IHC crew the past four seasons and my personal bias is that being a hotshot is where it's at for learning about fire and how to be an effective wildland firefighter.
I’m in the same place location wise and being late to the tee for hiring. Why do you say being on a contractor crew won’t get you anything vs staying in Florida and joining the wildland crew here? I was planning on going out to Montana anyways this summer in my camper van and just stumbled across wildland firefighting and that’s what I want to do. Most people on reddit are telling me to try Rocky Mountain Fire Co or grayback or another state like Washington/Oregon. What would you suggest contractor crew in the state I want to be in or a different state this year but fed job. My initial feeling is to just pack up right now head to Montana and start going and try to find a job that way in person.
Hey man, I understand this video is a year old now. But I didn’t make the pack test at my local wildfire station. But we have another one in my town (they both work together) should I give them a shot? Thanks for the info.
Without knowing the specifics I will say yes I don't see why not. I really only know about the Forest Service and not much about the workings of the municipal departments. I do know that structure firefighters can get red carded and go on wild fires if their department is set up for that.
What do you fellas think of my age? I'm 39. Im a semi truck driver. Can it be done?
I’m from Illinois and I’m looking to get into wildland firefighting how should I start by going seasonal first?
Search on USAjobs.gov but you might not find much because February is pretty late to be looking for the season. Jobs apps typically for the next fire season can open anywhere from mid August to mid December and stay open from maybe two weeks to a month. Most people start as seasonals. Much of the federal wildland firefighting workforce is seasonal. You can check what opportunities your state or county has.
Any body can help trying to be on a hotshot crew any places in California they you guys recommend
I’m starting from scratch to try and become a Wildland firefighter in California. So I can apply for an entry level job with just the 2 courses you recommended in the beginning?
Yes. You can apply without any courses. But you should try to take what you can online to show intiative. You will probably end up taking them again but it is good to show some things you are doing to prepare. I'm going to make a video related to this topic at some point because it is a point of confusion for a lot of people.
As a Marine coming out of Active Duty soon I have been wanting to join the wildland firefighters and hopefully go farther from that but for now this is what I been wanting to do does military experience help with these?
You will have veteran's preference for government jobs so that will help a bit. So if you apply for an engine, hand crews (type 2), helitack, at gs-4 level maybe gs-5 as well (read the requirements) and apply to multiple positions and locations you will have a good chance. Jobs are accepting applications for next season now and new ones will be opening up soon so start applying now. There are vet crew fire programs out there as well and those can get your foot in the door to move onto a hotshot crew or other fire position. I don't know how to get on a vet crew but I can confirm they are around in the south west and I don't know where else. I think taking an entry level fire job with feds if you can get it is a better way to go than the vet crew if you want to work for the feds. I would bet that for most who get weeded out in the application process it is because they don't follow the instructions on USA jobs applications such as not submitting required documents or because they only applied for jobs they don't meet the requirements for (which I have done on accident).
I believe the vet crews are often state run so you may not find any vet crews on USA jobs. But I'll let you do the googling.
I put my application in for years. They could never find it. I think you have to know somebody, it's very political, and where I live there is a lot of discrimination.
It is odd that they could never find it. There are some weird things that happen in the application process that is certain.
Opinions on private fire protection firms?
I feel like it's nearly impossible for me to get into this. From the east coast, no fire or ems experience, not a veteran. Am i wrong?
Not impossible, but does add some extra hurdles. If possible, go to a community college for some fire science or forestry classes. Any education helps check another box putting you in front of other people. Also, any medical experience helps. If you can get your EMT, they like that.
Well Greg what you have said there describes me when I started in fire. Like Nick said it adds hurdles but they are not insurmountable. For wildland fire in the Forest Service college isn't necessary but could help a bit. Most of the firefighters on my crew don't have a higher education degree. I'm glad I have a degree for if I want to do something else in the Forest Service.
I’m doing wild land firefighting though the California conservation corpse would that help my chances of getting hired because Im doing it for 1 year
That would definitely help. Exactly the sort of experience they are looking for especially if you get good references from your time in the CCC
@@gnarrdog but the The qualification that you were talking about can I still get them through the CCC
@@jaheenbrasko1755 I have no idea. But most programs should be willing to give you the trainings I was talking about after you get hired. Some won't some will. Sort of a complicated subject because it can go either way.
What if your not looking to do it for the money but more of a challenge to push or break myself. I wanna be a volunteer not paid. Bring the fire 🔥
You could try a fire department. They sometimes do wildland stuff. Other than that I only know of options where you would unfortunately have to be paid to work.
Could donate the money back into the dept
@@st33lwill22 I want the experience mostly. Sure a lot of hard work in exchange for skills working as an Aborist. I mean not really like I can go to college and ask for a degree to fight fires cut trees manage soils and a ton of elbow grease. Not stuff you can learn in text book or online. You only learn from this type of work.
Hey man thanks for the video but is there anything I can do as a 17 year old right now to help my chances?
Well if you turn 18 before this summer that would help. I think most regions of the Forest Service have finished hiring for the 2021 season by now. However you can find private forestry companies that do contract firefighting for the Forest service if you do turn 18 soon. Any firefighting experience would help you get into the Forest Service for wildland fire for the 2022 season. You could work on becoming an EMT. If you don't get hired this season don't get down. I didn't start until I was 25 and in 4 seasons I have only met one 18 year old firefighter so it's not too common. Just stay productive.
Good stuff 🙏🙏thx
So I’m in the navy as of now and when I get out. I would like to be a hotshot. What would be the best way on going about that? And is it common for military personnel to go in this profession?
Probably just apply for fire jobs on USA Jobs. Apply for hotshot jobs and other fire jobs. You might be able to get on a hotshot crew right away or maybe not. But once you have a fire season under your belt combined with being a veteran that would give you a very high chance of getting on a hotshot crew at least by your second season. There is Veterans Preference for federal jobs. There are veterans fire crews you can work for for a winter and that is looked highly upon at least on the crew I'm on which will hire interested people right from those crews. I don't remember the names of any of the veterans crews and I don't know the application process but I'll do a bit of research and maybe leave another comment here.
I applied for multiple BLM jobs as a GS3, I was in the private sector for two months this year at the end of the season, decided I wanted to go with the feds. I didnt have 6 months GS3 experience or 1 year of college so it put me at GS3, is it difficult to get hired at the GS3 level?
I'm sort of confused by your question because it could be taken in two ways. If someone meets the requirements of a gs-4 I don't think aiming for the same job on a gs-3 level will improve their chances (aka be easier) much provided it is the same position. On the other hand if applying for gs-3 positions allows you to apply for more locations then yes maybe that will improve your chances (be easier). I was a gs-3 at first even though I was qualified to be a gs-4 but I didn't know any better and of course no one gave me any guidance on that until I was already working. Are you sure you don't qualify to apply for gs-4? I think you just need 6 months of experience "equivalent" to the gs-3 level. So if you can come up with 4 more months of gs-3 level stuff you did AKA menial labor using different tools you will probably be able to qualify as a gs-4. Regardless of the gs level the hardest part of getting hired is figuring out the job application process that the government wants you to go through.
@@gnarrdog thanks that's what I was looking for
whats up man, I applied early october and havent heard anything back and today is the 28th of novermber, just wondering how long you think it usually think it takes for them to get back to you, if they get back to you at al
What specifically did you apply for? With BLM or USFS or NPS or other?
If you make it through the screening system and are referrered to the hiring managers you will get an email. If you are not referred you will also get an email. If the hiring managers decide to hire you, you may get an interest call and finally a job offer. If they decide not to hire you, you might not get an email until a year later when they are clearing out back logs. This is for the federal land management agencies.
Hi Joe I've been trying to join since last September. I've started my fire science classes in 2019. Now are the NWCG s-130 classes free? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Yes you can take s-130 online and before that you need to take s-190. I don't think you can complete it solely online but you can do most of the course online and and then find an organization doing the one or two field days and finish off the course. When I joined the forest service my engine boss told me to complete as much as I could of the online before work and then I could finish it when I got to work.
Thank you Joe for the information I started my first class yesterday. 👍
So I'm a 20 year old Male from Virginia and really want to be a wildland firefighter so where should I start like should I go to college, volunteer at the local fire department I just dont know
You should probably just apply to jobs on usajobs.gov or look up different contract crews like grayback forestry to get a start. I don't think a degree is helpful if all you want to do is be a wildland firefighter. If you want to one day do other things in the forest service then it would become useful. As far as volunteering at the fire department goes it could help I'm not sure how much exactly. You just need to apply for wildland jobs and have a decent resume. If you don't get in your first season of applying probably the volunteer firefighter and get an EMT certification route would help.
I'm editing this to add that you need to make calls to where you want to get hired. Networking to the best of your ability is a big deal. Everyone prefers to work with people who have shown interest and called to ask questions and tell a bit about themselves.
@@gnarrdog will do thank u bro. 🤜🤛
I’m from phoenix Az any idea where I get my red card here. Or what classes I take and where I can take them? Also what’s the pt requirements. Any advice Is greatly appreciated.
S-130/S-190. The other part of getting red card is the pack test administered by an organization that is authorized to provide red cards. If you go to academy you can get s-130/s-190 and may meet people who can help you get a job. Here is one in Prescott which is less than two hours from you and I found pretty quickly on Google:
www.azwildfireacademy.org/event/3897d815-842d-47e5-beb2-373ad6a364de/summary
More info:
www.coloradofirecamp.com/frequent-questions/red-card.html
Call or email them to see if there is anything else you need for red card I'm just some random guy.
@@gnarrdog appreciate the advice brother.
How much money do you make in a typical season? Clearly not in this for the money, but I’d need to have something I can live off of
TLDR: Wildland firefighters are heavily dependent on overtime to make decent money. I'm not going to give you a straight answer about how much I made each year because it is irrelevant to how much you will make. There is not a solid number that anyone can guarantee you.
As a gs-4 in 2020 my annual salary was $31,208. That's not what I made but is what my annual salary was. This year as a gs-5 my annual salary was $35,265. One factor to consider here is that you are only working six months so you might think you will make half that. But Wildland firefighters make all their money working overtime. Off the top of my head my OT hours on my hotshot crew have been about: 1,200 hours in 18', 950 hours in 19', 800 hours in 20', and 1,250 hrs in 21'. On my engine when I first started in 17' I got 730 hrs of OT. So all those hours are at 1.5x my base pay and on top of my 40hrs at base rate. We only get OT when we are on fires so there is usually hazard pay unless it is a prescribed burn. So ask wherever you are going what a typical season is and what your base pay is and you will be able to approximate how much you might make.
@@gnarrdog thanks for the response my man. Super helpful 👍
Do out of state firefighters get parking?
Yes. I can't think of any circumstance in which parking will be an issue.
Let me tell you something as an experience wildland fire fighter it's not for everyone you will have to WORK Buddy an be prepared to not take a SHOWER O-O for a few day's
What does your work schedule look like during season? Thanks!
Basically just block out six months of your life that you will not have personal time. At the beginning of the season you might be able to go home every night but once you start going to fires you will be gone two weeks at a time not counting travel days. And when you are on a fire you eat, work, sleep. That's pretty much the schedule. After 14 days on fire your crew is eligible for R&R when you get home. So you will have two days in which you can leave the two hour call back window and not worry.
What do I need to do to become a wildland firefighter
You might gain some info from watching this video. Also I have a link posted above to find useful information. Other than that I can't help you.
Joe Ritz is there any training to make it easy
There are online classes you could take to speed up the on boarding process. Look in my replies to comments here and I shared some links with other people. There are some wild land firefighting academies. I am not too familiar with them. There is no training that will guarantee you a job. Frankly the online classes are good on paper only and will give you very little preparation for the real work. The classroom classes I have taken are a bit better. You can get this job without any classes.
If you want more detailed info searching on reddit.com/r/wildfire is a good source for hiring tips and general questions. If you search around there for a few minutes you will probably be able to find the answers to your questions.
Below I'm posting a link to a Forest Service FAQ, but note that even though on page 2 it says you must be an FFT1 (Firefighter Type 1) to get a job this is not true for seasonal positions. Although it is not made clear in the FAQ I can tell that the section about what qualifications you need to be hired is geared towards obtaining a permanent position rather than a seasonal position. But the rest of the guide seems to be written towards people who have no federal fire experience. There is also a number in the guide that they encourage you to call for further clarifications.
Forest Service Wildland FAQ: www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_wysiwyg/ff_job_application_faq.pdf
I have 3 years exp. as a volunteer firefighter, 5 years as a public safety officer/dispatcher. Would this experienced speed up my chances of getting hired?
@@nickv2463 That experience would increase your chances of getting hired. How you present your experience matters a lot. So put on your resume how while you were a firefighter how you may have invested in new employees and any leadership/supervisor experience. The more things you can show that you did as a firefighter the better. As far as USA Jobs goes, if it's not on your resume it never happened.
I live in El Paso, TX where can I get some information to become a wildland firefighter.
You could apply for jobs on forests in New Mexico if you are willing to be a few hours from home. Other than that I put a few places you could check in other comments, the video description and in the video.
@@gnarrdog thank you for the information.
@@albertleon6103 I'm also in Texas. Some volunteer fire depts offer Wildland Fire. Mine did. Certified
now!💪
Best of luck
@@red4872 thank you
@@red4872 hi just wanted to ask you what do I need to study to get certified
My application has been referred to the posts in the region i applied for (apprentice) should i follow up and start calling those posts?
Ya do your best to find out who will be making the hiring decision and talk to them. Some regions are different than others and it seems to change slightly every year as far as who makes the decision and who has input. I'm not an expert this is just from what I overhear and read.
I think that following up would be good for an apprenticeship position especially. Because whoever hires you will be making the decision to stick with you for a while as opposed to a seasonal employee who they can get rid of easier (in my estimation). So they will likely be much more apprehensive to hire an unknown apprentice than an unknown seasonal.
@@gnarrdog cool, guess I'll start tomorrow. Thanks man. Applied to the rocky mountain region, so all over colorado.
Did you end up working this year fighting fires? How was it?
Yes I did. It was a bit odd at first. We worked for a week like normal and then went into a reporting from home mode. So those of us who live off base rarely went to the base. There was no prescribed burning in order to avoid gathering resources, which usually takes up our first month. Not being able to do prescribed burning cut our hours a bit. As far as fires go it was pretty similar to previous years. The main change was the lack of big base camps and more emphasis on spiking out in the field by ourselves or even getting hotel rooms when possible.
@@gnarrdog could you send me an email at dekenippd@gmail.com I would love to talk further about what its like daily to work on a crew and ask more questions
Howdy! I know its a bit from when you posted, but i saw the shirt and Im curious as to what program you went through at Paul Smiths.
Natural Resource Management and Policy
You do not need a red card to get hired as a wild land fft folks!!
What are the GS-3 and GS-4 titles?
GS stands for general schedule. Basically this is your pay grade. With higher GS levels comes more responsibility and more pay.
www.opm.gov/faqs/QA.aspx?fid=de14aff4-4f77-4e17-afaa-fa109430fc7b&pid=39c889e9-b372-4d97-b2e4-8497cdfded65
The title would be forestry aid and forestry technician
Can the s190/s130 be completed online?
Yes, you can take the classes and put on your resume that you did. But to get your red card you will still need to find some organization to give the pack test and assign your red card. So ideally take those online, have them done when you show up to work to save your boss time, then you will be ready to get your red card once you pass the pack test. But it all depends who is hiring you so ask your future boss for better clarification.
S-130: www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-130/course-delivery
S-190:
www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/s-190/course-delivery
You didn't really seem too happy in this video. Seems like there's a lot of bs and barriers that come with trying to be a wildland firefighter.
I wanna join a shot crew,any suggesting
It's a lot harder to got on a shot crew without any wildland experience. You can always apply but you'll probably need to work at least one season on another wildland program such as a handcrew, engine, helitack. Also try to talk to the programs you are applying to. If you are a veteran or an EMT that will improve your chances significantly. It comes down to your experience vs someone else's when they are looking through resumes. Certainly there's more to it but I think those are some key points.
@@gnarrdog I was on a engine crew this past season. I’ll get my emt qualification. I opened a task book for crewboss this past season too.
Hi,I'm 42 years old am I to old to get into this type of career?
As far as the Forest Service: "Must be under the age of 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of
federal service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -
OR- a veterans preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the
maximum age requirement."
www.fs.usda.gov › filesPDF
(FAQs) about Becoming a Forest Service Wildland Firefighter
I think this refers to permanent positions and you can still apply as a seasonal employee but I'm not sure.
@@gnarrdog ok thanks
@@donovanevans6137 You might want to also try private companies like Grayback.
@@gnarrdog I'm a 38 year old veteran, is there an official form to request a waiver that you know of? really appreciate this video
@@robert_douglas there is a waiver process to subtract military time from minimum entry age requirements
I teach Fire Science in Calif. I am using your video, thanks for the Information.
Ok nice!
Algún bombero forestal en usa que hable español?
I have seen contract crews which are largely spanish speaking. Also some federal firefighters speak Spanish with their families.
I have a few questions but would it be possible to send them to you through Gmail or something? I'm 19 and I'm currently going to college but honestly, I don't know if it helps in the long run. Let me know and thank you.
joseph.j.ritz@gmail.com
@@gnarrdog Do you mind if I email you some questions I had? I was just considering this and had a few worries. Thanks
@@banjo8525 Ya go ahead
did you become one? :)
Yes five seasons in now
whats a red card
Copy paste from the Park Service Website:
Incident Qualifications
The Incident Qualification Card, commonly called a Red Card, is an accepted interagency certification that a person is qualified to do the required job when arriving on an incident.
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group sets minimum training, experience, and physical fitness standards for wildland fire positions. Incident Qualification Cards are issued to individuals who successfully complete the required training, experience, and physical fitness (work capacity) test by the firefighting agencies that are members of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
In place of Incident Qualification Cards, local and rural firefighting agencies may issue letters of certification stating that the individuals have met the appropriate physical fitness, experience, and training standards.
Obtaining a Qualifications Card
If you do not have an Incident Qualification Card (Red Card), there are several steps to go through:
Discuss your interest in fire with your immediate supervisor to obtain permission to pursue the training and other requirements, as well as go on incidents (many incidents are during the summer when visitor traffic to parks is at its peak).
Speak with, or have your supervisor speak with, the fire management officer (FMO) at your park about your interest. If your park is small, it may not have a full-time FMO. In this case you would typically speak to a collateral-duty FMO, as well as your regional fire management officer. See what trainings are necessary in your area of interest; some may be web-based self-study courses that may be completed at your home unit. The Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification Guide (310-1) is the main source for the requirements for various positions.
Work with your local Incident Qualifications and Certification System (IQCS) account manager to make sure your training and qualifications information is up-to-date and accurate so they can print you an Incident Qualification Card (Red Card).
wildlife firefighter Russian
da
"big head" {silicon valley} no hate just jokin...
Do you know if there are height/weight requirements to be hired on any fire crew?
For smokejumping there is. Other than that I have never heard of a height or weight requirement.
Or you can be a real firefighter and join Cal Fire
If you like fighting fire from the side of a road that is fine. In all seriousness to anyone reading this Cal Fire might be a good option for you. They are known to pay better and treat their employees well. And you might even get the opportunity to watch a hotshot crew hike in!
Cal fire? Pavement queens....no thanks