Firefighter performing a prescribed fuels burn

Forestry Technician - Prescribed Fire/Fuels Technician

This position is available in the following series:

Position Overview

Would you like to protect this beautiful country from the most destructive force known? A Forestry Technician Specializing in Prescribed fuels may be the position for you! As a technician you will have a direct impact on how we combat forest fires. You will be able to conduct field reconnaissance of prescribed fire/fuels treatment units, and make recommendations on appropriate actions. While also having the ability to develop and refine plot characteristics, frequency of visits, subjects to be measured, and data storage and analysis techniques. 

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 prior firefighting experience, with knowledge and skill in the care, maintenance, and utilization of wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire and fuels treatment equipment. 

Work Environment

Work is performed both in-doors (office) and out-of-doors (field work). Office conditions require long periods of sitting, working with computers and general lifting, and bending and reaching. Field conditions are performed in various conditions and often involve steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees F to below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Personnel must adjust and cope with exposure to adverse weather elements, dust and smoke, poor sleeping and eating conditions and unpredictable sets of circumstances. The employee may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (boots, hardhat, gloves, flame resistant clothing, etc.). Work may require travel by fixed- wing or rotor-wing aircraft. 

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: ENGBCRWBFIRBHMGBRXB2 from National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Secondary Core Education Requirement depending on complexity: ICT4ENGBCRWBHMGBICT3TFLDHEBM from National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Career Level Requirements

Responsibilities by Level

  • Mid:

    • Utilizes fire and fuels modeling applications and other information such as aerial and satellite imagery to analyze fire behavior and fire effects.  
    • Responsible for the preparation and completion of travel documents form module travel. Completes and submits subordinates time and attendance records. 
    • Plans and conducts project assessments which determine the presence or absence of hazardous wildland fuels.  
    • Identifies and recommends corrective actions for job safety and health hazards, instructs employees on safety requirements of assignments, reviews and reports loss incidents in accordance with Department/bureau and OWCP regulations. 

  • Journey:

    • Reviews and comments on all sections of the Fire Management Plan pertaining to prescribed fire and fuels treatments when necessary.  
    • Evaluates prescription treatments, monitoring methods, and new technologies and, as appropriate, makes refinements to improve the organization's effectiveness. 

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Strengths by Level

Mid 6-7
Journey 8-9
  • 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.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Decision Making
    Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • 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.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Physical Strength and Agility
    Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Problem Solving
    Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Resilience
    Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Stamina
    Exerts oneself physically over long periods of time without tiring (which may include performing repetitive tasks such as data entry or coding).
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Teamwork
    Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Technical Competence
    Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9
  • Writing
    Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
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    Mid 6-7
    Journey 8-9