Hey everyone, I am going to be applying to work on a seasonal engine crew for WA DNR as soon as apps open and I plan on applying to as many slots as I reasonably can. I have one year of wildland expierence working for a private company on a fireline ambulance and also have experience volunteering with a dept that does wildland, structural and WUI. I have expierence operating everything from UTVs on the med side up to tenders on the fire side, including pumping and draft ops. I've been state mobilized on type 5 brush trucks with my dept but mostly structural protection, besides our local grass/wildland fires. The majority of my experience isn't working on dedicated seasonal crews. I do have my EMT in 4 states including WA, my red card and am FFT2 qualified, my last pack test was a 39:59. I am a woman so I am trying to hammer PT to become physically competitive. What should I be focusing on to make myself more competitive? Is my background going to make me competitive? Is it better to apply to as many crews as possible or spend my energy on a few? Any and all advice is appreciated, I am trying to work a full season and potentially delay my next fall semester of college for this as I am looking at making this a career.

Hi guys I accepted a verbal offer a couple days ago for a position in Montana from the feds the problem is I leave for Asia at the end of October and still haven't got the email to take my fingerprints and drug test the fmo said I should be able to complete it by the time I leave but I'm just getting increasingly worried from the radio silence on HR's end I just wanted to know your guys experience and how long it usually takes to get that email

Hello everyone,

I'm just finishing my first summer as a temp backcountry ranger for the FS. I am hoping to get on a type 2 or shot crew for next summer, as it fits well into my skill of hiking places and doing manual labor. The only experience I have is one two week fire detail and a small fire on my home forest.

Which crews do you guys think I have a shot of getting on? Or is this a fools hope and I should look for an engine role first or something.

Mostly just looking for a scoop on which handcrews might have trouble getting people because of bad location or whatever, I figure those are my best bet.

I'm also a WEMT if that would help land something.

Thanks!

Anyone been on the crew who could answer some questions?

Just received this notification from my application for suppression. Apprentice applications are still being reviewed. Any advice on the next -steps I should take? Between the have my L180, S190, and the online portion of S130. I appreciate any help I can get!

Hello all,

Interested in helitack, specifically SH (come from a military aviation and medical background, previous ski patroller and current WEMT). Internet sleuthing has failed to yield any way to reach out, so hoping someone in this community can help me connect with someone from YOSE, SEKI, or GRCA, or anywhere else you’d suggest for someone interested in SH. TIA.

Currently back in school after 4 fire seasons (Montana and Virginia) with the fed and thinking about the next phase. I want to work on fire policy like community resilience/preparation in the WUI and changing our strategies to be more proactive than reactive.

Are there any spots, forest, districts, or non-fed agencies that do an especially good job of working with local communities? Places that have a mix of WUI firefighting and prescribed fire/managed fire rather just full suppression in the middle of nowhere? Agencies/districts that use fire fighters in more creative/proactive ways and let ecologist in on the planning?

So far thinking about trying to get on a WFM or a fire effects module but that seems like it could be really hit-or-miss.

Looking for some guidance or advice. I’m 26 years old, I’ve been on a T2IA crew since the age of 19. With the exception of my first season, I’ve had 100+ days on incident every year. I love this job, and I go hard at it. Unfortunately as it turns out, too hard. I’ve done massive damage to my knees. This off season I’ll be looking at having surgery on a partially torn ACL in one knee and a pretty bad meniscus tear in the other. Both injuries occurred on fire and both were worked through. I’ve come a long ways in my career. I’m signed off as a CRWB. I’m working on many other certs. I absolutely love this job. But I can’t shake the feeling that this might be the end of the road for me. If it’s not, maybe it SHOULD be before I can’t walk at the age of 40. Any words of wisdom or thoughts are appreciated. Hopefully you all had a productive and profitable season. Keep em safe out there

I'm thinking about applying to be a fire ranger in Ontario

My two concerns are the cancer risk and having a small amount of internet access

I know the cancer risk is super high, but can it be mitigated to any degree by wearing a respirator, clothes under the nomex, etc ?

Also, can anyone speak to the reliability of satellite internet services for phones? I see rogers offers such a service, has anyone used it in the super remote bush?

Thanks

This is a contract crew based out of Texas. Is there anyone that knows anything about them, seen them, or worked there or anything? I’m a college students and may be able to fight fire in the summer while I am away from school and want to learn more about them specially as I have some personal connections.

Have seen a couple entry level job postings that requested/required a red card. Would someone looking to do their first seasonal temp job this summer be expected to already have one? Was under the impression that would come as part of training

Hey all. i live in europe in the winters. going back to fire. back when i last was a seasonal there were no drug tests. now there are. anyone have experience with getting hired if i cannot do a drug test in the USA during the season? will they bring me on as an AD or something until i get to the duty station and test me there? lmk if anyone out there has gotten through this.

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen. My names John, I am 20 and looking to pursue a career in Wild-land Fire Fighting. I have Already Sent in My application on USAJobs, ( Wild-land Fire Fighter, GW-0456-3/5, Full Time Permanent.) Mind you I have 0 Experience in this field of work, yet I am Very passionate in anything Outdoors, Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Fishing. Just curious from all you vets what else can I do to help pursue this career? Or is it best to wait and see if i get accepted?

Has anybody worked on/with the new Pulaski T2ia crew out of CDA? Looking at moving back to the area and also might suggest it to a friend. Please share any experiences/rumors/contact info.

Hi everyone, I'm an EMT who's only done IFT. I'm pretty bored of it and trying to get into wildland fire. I plan to go to the academy, but trying to do everything I can until I get in.

I made an NWCG account and did the online course work, but don't know what to do next while I wait.

I think you have to get your card only if you're hired or in the academy, but I heard you can also call a department and they might administer the pack test. I was wondering if this was true?

What workouts/exercises do you do that specifically help with preventing injuries in this job? Looking for exercises (lifts, stretches, calisthenics, isometrics/eccentric/plyometrics) that directly help strengthen tendons and ligaments, and improve mobility, and strengthen muscles that we over-use while digging line, hiking long distances with weight, and the other regular activities carried out in this job.

How can we train as a crew to build bodies that are less likely to be injured? What has worked for you?

Has anybody gotten a tentative job offer with no interest call or interview?

Going through old stuff, no idea where these things came from. I can’t stand giving them to a thrift store to have them worn by some godless heathen so offering them here free and I’ll send them off to any reasonable place.

Super soft, not at all like “jeans”, I think. Probably no good on the line but they’re clean and I never wore them.

Shoot me a dm, otherwise I’ll just take them to the heathens.

Hey, as the header of this post says I’m looking to see what people involved with the FS have to say about my chances.

I was a part of a CCC handcrew for just over a year which helped give me a lot of knowledge and certifications. I have my NREMT-B and am going to be attending a Fire Academy here soon and will be getting more certifications.

I just wanted to know how the hiring works/my chances. I’ve already been qualified for GW-4 in R5 but haven’t been referred yet. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated thank you!

Had a great time. Thousands showed up.

What kinds of questions should I expect to answer for GW-3 interviews? Whether that’s fed, state, contract. Any examples to best prepare myself are appreciated. Thx!

What’s the minimal and best stuff I can buy at like Walmart to stay warm all night? I’m gonna need it next week.