Firefighter performing prescribed fires

Forestry Aid (Fire)

This position is available in the following series:

Position Overview

Are you looking for a career that is challenging but also exciting? By becoming a Forestry Aid you will be performing fire suppression and battling the wildfires to protect this beautiful country, its natural habitats and its residents! We are looking for young and highly physical individuals to join us as we work to fight wildfires.  

This position is represented at the following bureaus

Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
National Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Candidate Description

The ideal candidate must have working knowledge of standard wildland fire management program requirements, suppression tactics, methods and procedures and skill in the use of wildland firefighting hand tools, pumps and hoses, and chainsaws sufficient to perform routinely assigned fire suppression and prescribed fire assignments and to maintain firefighting tools and equipment. Working knowledge of fire behavior, hazards, and accepted fire safety practices and procedures to prevent injury and loss of life. Ability to perform duties under stressful and adverse operating conditions, such as long work hours, heavy workloads, emergency situations, adverse working and environmental conditions. 

Work Environment

The work is primarily performed in forest, range and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. 

Minimum Education Requirements

Please see the Individual Occupation Requirements and the Technical and Medical Support Positions Group Qualification Standard on the OPM websites.

Primary Core Education Requirement depending on complexity: ENGB, CRWB, FIRB, HMGB, RXB2 from National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Secondary Core Education Requirement depending on complexity: ICT4, ENGB, CRWB, HMGB, ICT3, TFLD, HEBM from National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Career Level Requirements

Responsibilities by Level

  • Entry:

    • Searches out and extinguishes burning materials by moving dirt, applying water by hose or backpack pump, etc. Chops brush, fells small trees, and moves dirt to construct fireline using various hand tools such as axes, shovels, Pulaskis, and McLeods.  
    • As directed, patrols fireline to locate and extinguish embers, flare-ups, and hotspot fires that may threaten developed firelines.  
    • May perform project work such as road and trail maintenance, habitat manipulation, and miscellaneous equipment and facilities maintenance.
    • Patrols fireline on foot or vehicle to locate and extinguish embers, flare-ups, and hotspot fires that may threaten developed firelines.  

Click to read more

Strengths by Level

Entry 2-3
  • Accountability
    Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 2-3
  • Oral Communication
    Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 2-3
  • Physical Strength and Agility
    Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 2-3
  • Resilience
    Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 2-3
  • Stamina
    Exerts oneself physically over long periods of time without tiring (which may include performing repetitive tasks such as data entry or coding).
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 2-3
  • Teamwork
    Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 2-3