2024 Se Summer Wildland Firefighter

Salary : $3,433.00 - $3,840.00 Monthly
Location : Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Job Number: 2024-WFF-SE Region
Department: Dept. of Natural Resources
Opening Date: 11/15/2023
Closing Date: 4/1/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
SOUTHEAST REGION
2024 SUMMER WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER
Recruitment #2024-WFF-SE
Full-time, Exempt, Non-represented positions.
Salary: $3,433.00 - $3,840.00 Monthly
Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.
Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The fire season is quickly approaching! The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in search of hardworking, dedicated, responsible, and reliable team members to join our Wildland Fire Engine Crewsin the Southeast Region as a Wildland Firefighter. As a firefighter on one of our engine crews, you will perform pre-suppression and suppression-related activities.
Firefighting is hard work and requires long hours and time away from home. You must be willing and capable of performing strenuous outdoor work safely and productively. Working for the DNR as a Wildland Firefighter is extremely rewarding. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other fire professionals including area fire districts, federal and other state partners; giving you exposure to a variety of learning opportunities, agency operations, and the ability to build cohesive relationships across the state of Washington. You will experience a different level of collaboration within the DNR that will offer a lifetime worth of skills for your future career path. The experience and training gained as a member of an engine crew can form the foundation for a successful career in forestry and other natural resource professions.
The duration of these positions is generally 3-6 months with work beginning as early as May and ending in late September (note: the season has the potential to begin as early as April and run as late as October). Upon hire, basic wildland fire training is provided. This training will usually take place at the agency's fire academy. The academy provides meals and lodging for all participants and has a duration of 7-14 days.
Duties
What to Expect as a DNR Firefighter:

• Prepare for fire duty, and maintain assigned equipment and vehicles for fire readiness.
• Safely respond to wildland fires to suppress and prevent them from spreading.
• Perform entry-level wildland fire duties including hand-line construction, water handling, general suppression, and prevention activities or training.
• When not engaged in wildland fire preparedness and suppression, Wildland Firefighters will perform tasks such as thinning and pruning trees for watersheds, protecting wildlife, and maintaining recreation sites, buildings, grounds, roads, and equipment.
• Many of the duties performed on these jobs require considerable physical exertion; working outdoors in all terrain and weather conditions, working long hours, and extended periods of time away from home. Duties include but may not be limited to the ability to carry up to 60 pounds, run, bend, twist, walk, and/or climb.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• Must be age 18 and possess a high school diploma or equivalent at the time of hire
• Must provide Certificates of Course Completion for IS-700and ICS-100 prior to or on the day of the scheduled Work Capacity Test. If you have previously taken and received credit by DNR for these courses, you are NOT required to retake or resubmit the certificates of completion.
• Must pass the DNR work capacity test or "Pack Test" during the selection process and prior to starting work. The "Pack Test" is a work capacity test that measures aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance (45lbs vest, 3 miles within 45 minutes).
• Firefighters require the competencies related to being able to effectively communicate with supervisors, and work with and lead subordinates in wildland fire organizations.
• Ability to act promptly, use good judgment in day-to-day and emergency situations, and deal tactfully with the public and interagency partners.
• DNR Core Competencies:
  • Personal Accountability
  • Value Others
  • Compassionate Communication
  • Inspire Others
  • Commitment to Excellence

Employees must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the United States upon hire.

Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment:

• Duties involve field work in hazardous environments on fires, requiring physical performance calling for above-average endurance and superior conditioning. Ability to carry up to 60 lbs., run, bend, twist, walk, and/or climb while working outdoors in all terrain and weather conditions.
• A typical work day is an 8-hour day, five days a week. Positions require response during off-duty hours for emergency fire suppression needs. Positions required to work long, irregular hours on workdays, weekends, day or night when performing suppression duties.
• Requires a large majority of time in the field traveling between fire assignments and fire training. The position requires frequent overnight travel and extended work assignments generally 14 days in length with infrequent travel of 21 days.
• Field duties require the use of hand tools, power tools, GPS, topographic maps, a compass, and an iPad. Must be able to carry appropriate wildland fire tools on field assignments, as needed, to conduct assigned tasks. Day-to-day responsibilities require the ability to safely operate pickup trucks and Type 5 Wildland Fire Engines.
• Successful certification at the minimum level of Firefighter Type 2 is required after the annual work capacity test and firefighter courses are completed for the fire year.

Desired Qualifications:

• A valid unrestricted driver's license and have two years of driving experience.
• NWCG Qualification of Firefighter Type 1.

Supplemental Information
Application Requirements:

• To be considered you must apply online at (Click on the APPLY button above).
• Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
• Provide three to five professional references - you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include it with your resume.

PRIOR to reporting to the Pack Test, you will be required to turn in a completed Waiver and Release Form and a Completed Health Screening Questionnaire (HSQ). Applicants are strongly encouraged to train for the arduous level work capacity test. However, before you begin to train for testing or before substantially increasing your level of activity please review the health screening questionnaire (HSQ) and consult your health care provider if necessary. You may contact DNR Recruiting at for a copy of the HSQ.
Work Locations:
CHELANThe Chelan Fire Unit is located in East Wenatchee, WA. The response area covers state, private, and federal lands within Chelan and Douglas County. The Chelan Fire Unit prides itself on being a High-Reliability Organization with a strong emphasis on interagency cooperation. Engine crew members will help staff a Type 5 Engine as a part of a 3-4-person Engine module and hand crew firefighters will help staff a 20-person crew. The majority of our fire responses involve working in cooperation with our partner agencies, the local Fire Districts, the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. On average the Chelan Fire Unit will respond to roughly 80 incidents per year. This Chelan Unit is made up of 7 wildland fire engines, a 20-person hand crew, and an initial attack dozer.
Pilar Castro AFMO /509-856-5501
Nick Gale, AFMO /509-899-7689
Bryan Lyle, Crew Superintendent /509-856-5500
ELLENSBURGThe Kittitas Unit works out of the Ellensburg and Cle Elum work centers. This unit falls within the boundary of Kittitas County, which has a total area of 2,333 square miles. The Kittitas Unit consists of 6 Type-5 fire engine modules; 1 permanent engine lead, 5 seasonal engine leads, and 18 seasonal firefighters. Our unit holds our interagency cooperation in high regard by embracing the "all hands all lands" vision, and through this theme, we are able to protect state and private timber lands, along with the citizens of Washington State. On average, we respond to roughly 60 incidents a year. Dallas Barron, AFMO, /509-856-5121
Court Martin, AFMO- Cle Elum, /509-899-7613
YAKIMAThe Yakima Unit work center is located in Naches, WA. This unit consists of 5 type 5 wildland fire engines staffed with a total of 1 permanent and 4 seasonal engine leaders and 15 seasonal fighters to provide prevention, pre-suppression, and suppression responsibilities for both state and private forested lands as well as closely working with our interagency partners throughout the area. The Yakima Unit also hosts an initial attack dozer, the Ahtanum Handcrew, and a Helibase for DNR's Fire Aviation program. When not assigned to fires, firefighters will be training and engaging in project work related to Forest Health, Community Resilience, and Prescribed Fire. Lane Berry, AFMO, Lane.berry@dnr.wa.gov/509-856-5526
Carson Zepp, FMO, /509-899-2170
KLICKITAT (Goldendale and Dallesport)The Klickitat Unit services Klickitat County and parts of Skamania County along the Scenic Columbia River Gorge. The Klickitat Unit consists of 7 Type-5 wildland fire engines, the 20-person Klickitat Initial Attack Hand Crew, an Initial Attack Dozer, and a Helibase for DNR's Fire Aviation Program, 35 seasonal firefighters and 5 engine leads. Covering just under 760,000 acres of private, state, and federal lands, the Klickitat unit partners with 20 rural and municipal fire departments along with 2 National Forests, The Yakama Nation, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Bureau of Land Management to combat wildfires in our area. The Klickitat Unit has responded to 57 incidents over a 5-year average. Currently the Klickitat unit staffs two locations; Goldendale, WA and Dallesport, WA. Anthony Dobson, Klickitat FMO, /509-310-3229
Chris Barthlow, East AFMO, /509-856-5495
Jordan Wilson, Central AFMO, /509-856-5567
Charles Watkins, Klickitat Initial Attack Crew Superintendent, /509-859-6884
DAYTON and CLARKSTON (also known as Blue Mountain Unit)The Blue Mountain Unit is situated in the far Southeast corner of the state and staffed in 2 locations: Dayton, WA and Clarkston, WA. Protection covers 270,000 acres of land over 4 counties. This unit consists of 4 wildland fire engines (2 engines at each location) staffed with a total of 16 seasonal firefighter personnel, and one Initial Attack Dozer. The unit works very closely with interagency partners in the Blue Mountain area including 7 Rural Fire Districts, 3 USFS Ranger Districts, 2 ODF units, and 2 BLM units. For more information on the community of Dayton, please visit For more information on the community of Clarkston, please visit Jacob LeBaron, Dayton AFMO, /509-859-6703
Austin Summers, Clarkston AFMO, /509-899-9108
Jason Hoerner, FMO, /509-859-6779
For more specific information about DNR Uplands Regions and how to contact those regions, please visit
About the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Our mission is to manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington's lands and waters to meet the needs economically and socially for current and future generations. At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington's lands and communities through diversity, equity and inclusion. Additional Information:
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Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 522-2500 or email Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
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