Wildland Firefighter - Direct Hiring Authority

These positions are located within their respective Division/Branch of Wildland Fire and/or Aviation. Many positions are available to serve as a Wildland Firefighter. The DOI Standard PD of DX00400, Wildland Firefighter, GS-0456-6 is being used to fill these positions. Position is non-supervisory in nature and is considered Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

• Leads modules and crews in all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation.

• Observes, collects and record fire-related data with regards to fuels, topography, weather, fire behavior, fire effects, smoke, and fire location.

• Maintains and ensures maintenance of equipment and hand tools.

• May perform hazard fuel reduction projects, which entails mechanical removal of vegetation through use of chainsaws, etc.

• Operate, moves, inspect and performs preventative maintenance on vehicles and equipment.

• Maintains safety of fire line personnel by evaluating weather, fuels, topography, and fire behavior for prescribed and wildland fires.

• Collects fire weather data, maps projects, and maintains appropriate records, including fire reports.

• Assist in the management and safe implementation of a fuels and fire management program.

• Train, mentor, and lead wildland firefighters through on-the- job training, formal and informal setting that include emergency response.

The salary listed in this vacancy announcement represents the 2024 GS pay scale for the Rest of US (RUS). Some positions will have a higher yearly salary based on the duty location. Please click HERE to view the GS-pay scales for 2024.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement04/30/2024 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Selective Factors: The applicant must possess all the following qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position:

Selective Factors:

For a Wildland Firefighter, GS-0456-06 position, you must meet the following requirements:

Engine Crew

• NWCG Certification of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and the training requirements of S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior

• AND - S-211, Portable Pumps and Water Use;

• OR-

Wildland Fire Module Lead Crew Member

• NWCG Certifications of Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO)-OR- Helicopter Crew Member ( HECM)-OR- Helicopter Long Line/Remote Hook Specialist (HELR);

• OR-

IHC Crewmember

• Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) and S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior;

• OR-

Helicopter Lead Crew Member

• Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) -and- Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) -and- Helicopter Crew Member (HECM) and the trainings of S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior, S-211, Portable Pumps and Water Use, and S-212, Wildland Fire Chainsaws. I have provided a copy of my IQCS Master Record or Equivalent documentation with my application package.

• AND-

Under age 37

• OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position

• OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

• AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 level, you must possess the following:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in federal service. Examples of specialized experience include:Performing and directing others in starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose appropriate nozzles and nozzle adjustment in effective use of water and foam application; performed prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop up; evaluated initial fire situations, determining rate of spread, potential hazards to property and other improvements; ensured the engine and fire equipment has been kept in full state of readiness for emergency dispatch.

This position is covered by the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) as a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement. These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcement officers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service in documented special retirement covered position(s) sufficient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before the mandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived and their corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 after completing 20 years of service. Applicants must submit proof of their previous and/or current status in the Fire Fighter or Law Enforcement special enhanced annuity retirement system.

NOTE: If your firefighting experience includes both structural and wildland, it is essential that your application materials clearly separate and document your wildland experience.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.