r/Wildfire • • Apr 25 '21

Should you die on the job

337 Upvotes

Hey guys, have one of those uncomfortable type of questions. It’s been a while since I’ve filled out a beneficiary form and now that I have a kid coming into the world, it’s time to change my death wishes. A google search provided me the recognition of the Beneficiary Form for unpaid benefits (SF 1152), in which you designate a percentage of your unpaid benefits to your loved ones/“beneficiaries”. Now here’s my questions:

1) How much will a beneficiary actually receive if allotted say 100% of my unpaid benefits? What and how much $ are my unpaid benefits?

2) I remember at some point, writing down a description of how I would like my funeral procession to proceed, and filling that out along with the aforementioned form, but I can’t find that one. Anybody recollect the name of that form or have a form # they can provide me?

Thanks everybody


r/Wildfire • • Apr 27 '22

**How to Get a Job as a Wildland Firefighter*

470 Upvotes

How to apply for a Fed Job (USFS, BLM, BIA, FWS) - Revised 07/29/2023

  • Apply to jobs in Sept.-Feb. on https://www.usajobs.gov . Search for things such as “forestry aid, fire, and 0462.”
    • Use filters in the sidebar, set grade to "GS3 and GS4". Under the "more filters" tab you can toggle "Seasonal, Summer, Temporary, and Full Time"
    • Be sure to read each job description to make sure it is for fire. There are other jobs that fall under "Forestry Aide/ Tech." that do not involve wildland fire.
    • Applications for Federal Jobs are only accepted during a narrow (2 week long) window nowadays. You can find out when this window is by calling prospective employers or checking USAJobs weekly.
  • Build a profile on USAjobs and create a resume. Kind of a pain in the ass, but it's just a hurdle to screen out the unmotivated. Just sit down and do it.
    • In your resume, be sure to include hours worked and contact info for references along with permission to contact said references.
  • Call around to various districts/forests/parks you're interested in working for. Do this between early October and February. The earlier in that time period, the better.
    • Hiring officials keep track of who called, when, and how good they sounded. Just call the front desk and ask for whoever does the hiring for "fire."
    • Have a few lines rehearsed about why you want the job and why you're worth hiring. Leave a voicemail if the person is out of the office. Ask questions about what firefighting resources they have (handcrew, engine, lookouts, helicopter, etc, basically what job they can even offer you), when to apply, how to apply, IF they are even hiring...
  • You can leave a message and Fire Managers will usually call you back. Applying online is basically only a formality. Talking to or physically visiting potential employers is the only way to go. People drive out from NY and Maine to talk to crew bosses out West all the time and are usually rewarded with a job for doing so.
  • Have a resume ready to email or hand-in, and offer to do so.
  • It helps to keep a spreadsheet or some notes of all the places you've called, who you talked to, what firefighting resources they have, the deadline for hiring, and generally how the convo went.
  • Apply to 15+ positions. It's hard to get your foot in the door, but totally do-able.
  • If they sound excited and interested in YOU, then you'll probably get an offer if all your paperwork goes through.
  • Unlike the many lines of work, Wildland Firefighting resumes can be 10+ pages long. The longer and more detailed the better. List the sports you've played, whether you hunt or workout, and go into detail about your middle school lawn mowing business - seriously. You are applying to a manual labor job, emphasizing relevant experience.
  • Also have a short resume for emailing. Don't email your ungodly long USAjobs resume.
  • You wont get an offer if you haven't talked to anyone.
    • If you do get an offer from someone you haven't talked to, its usually a red-flag (hard to fill location for a reason). Ex. Winnemucca, NV
  • Start working out. Expect high school sports levels of group working out starting the 1st day of work (running a few miles, push ups, pull ups, crunches, etc).
  • The pack test, the 3miles w/ 45lbs in 45 mins, is a joke. Don't worry about that, only horrifically out of shape people fail it.

- Alternatives to Fed Jobs - Revised 07/29/2023

  • There are also contractors, such as Greyback and Pat-Rick, mostly based in Oregon, with secondary bases around the west. Not as good of a deal, because it's usually on-call work, the pay is lower, and it's a tougher crowd, but a perfectly fine entry-level position. If you can hack it with them, you can do the job just fine.
  • Also look into various state dept. of natural resources/forestry. Anywhere there are wildfires, the state and counties have firefighter jobs, not as many as the Feds, but definitely some jobs. I just don't know much about those.
  • You could also just go to jail in California and get on a convict crew...
  • I wouldn't bother applying to easy-to-Google programs (e.g. Great Northern or North Star crews in MT and AK respectively), as the competition for the 1/2 dozen entry-level jobs is way too intense. A remote district in a po-dunk town is your best bet for getting your foot in the door if you're applying remotely. I started in such a place in the desert of southern Idaho and then moved onto a much nicer setting, up in Montana.
  • Also look into the Nature Conservancy, they have fire crews, as do the California/Montana/Arizona/Minnesota Conservation Corps, and the various USDL Job Corps programs that are run by the Forest Service.

- QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED

Surprisingly few.

  • 18+ years old
  • GED or high school grad
  • relatively clean criminal record (you can have a felony/DUI, etc).
  • A driver's license is required by the Feds, even if you have a DUI, you still need a valid DL
  • A pre-work drug screening is a possibility. The Department of Interior (Park Service & BLM) always drug tests. The Forest Service usually doesn't, but certainly can. Wildland Firefighters are a conservative bunch and open drug use is generally not tolerated. It's a good idea to be able to piss clean and not talk about past drug use.
  • A degree helps, but is by no means necessary.
  • You do have to have some sort of desirable skill or quality though. I mean, if you're just uneducated, unskilled, and out of shape, it's not gonna work out for you even if you do get hired. An EMT certification, even w/o experience, is probably the best "sure bet" for getting a job as a wildland firefighter, but landscaping/manual labor experience, military time, some education, even just being in really good shape and/or having a lot of sports team experience are all good enough

- FAQs

For federal jobs**, if you haven't applied by the end of February, you are probably too late, sometimes there are late postings, but your chances greatly decrease at finding a job.**

  • Hotshot crews and smokejumping are not for rookies. Don't waste their time or your breath by calling
  • .You CAN apply if you have ZERO EXPERIENCE and still have a decent chance at getting a job
  • You DO NOT need EMT, while it is somewhat beneficial, it is by no means needed to get your first fire job
  • Calfire does not hire people with zero experience and zero qualifications.

/TLDR

  • Apply to jobs in Sept-Feb on https://www.usajobs.gov . Search for things such as “forestry aid, fire, and 0462.”
  • Make long resume
  • Apply to multiple locations
  • Call the locations
  • Get in better shape

Thanks to u/RogerfuRabit for the previous post on how to get a job in WF.


r/Wildfire • • 2h ago

Question Got a TJO without interest call

4 Upvotes

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


r/Wildfire • • 10h ago

Giving away old FS 34x30 pants

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12 Upvotes

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.


r/Wildfire • • 16h ago

Trunk or treat

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25 Upvotes

Had a great time. Thousands showed up.


r/Wildfire • • 13h ago

Question Absolute warmest essential things to buy for spiking out.

11 Upvotes

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.


r/Wildfire • • 4h ago

Odds of getting hired on with the fs?

2 Upvotes

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!


r/Wildfire • • 3h ago

S-130 Field Day

1 Upvotes

For starters, I live in southern Colorado. I have completed all prerequisites for the FFT2 certification all I am lacking is the S-130 field day/arduous pack test. Unfortunately I have only come across Colorado Firecamp in Salida as a place to get that checked off but they no longer offer the field day. Do any of you here know of any proctors for the field day? I am willing to travel throughout Colorado to get this completed. Thanks in advance for any feedback.


r/Wildfire • • 10h ago

Question Hiring process and calling departments

3 Upvotes

So my USAJOBS application is strong I’ve applied for a bunch of openings over the last week of two, I’ve used that one post in this subreddit like a bible and then other resources. I know that post applying online you need to call hiring managers. As a GS3 hopeful how would I best go about that? I have some questions prepared around OT and housing however who should I call? What hours are best? How long should the call last? Any help would be appreciated.


r/Wildfire • • 5h ago

Interview Prep

1 Upvotes

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!


r/Wildfire • • 14h ago

Question Standout during hiring

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’m 20 years old and looking to get into wildland firefighting. I live in Ontario and would like to get on anywhere in Canada. My current qualifications and experience:
Pre-Service Firefighter education
SP100 certification
EMR certification
Patient transfer job
Volunteer experience with a nonprofit organization
I’m considering getting a chainsaw safety certificate instead of the operator (no available). Would that still be good?
Are there courses or certifications I should get?
Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


r/Wildfire • • 10h ago

Canadian firefighting term

0 Upvotes

Does anyone know if its possible to take a position in wildland firefighting in Canada for just a month or 2? Has anyone done this or know of which services are more open to short term position? Im canadian but not living in canada currently so im right now targeting a short term position, looking at Layn rn.


r/Wildfire • • 12h ago

Winterizing a fire-damaged property in Spokane: what has to happen before the first hard freeze, and what can wait until spring

0 Upvotes

Posting this because October–November is when fire-damaged properties here start to deteriorate much faster if they're not winterized, and I've been meeting homeowners who didn't realize some of this is time-sensitive. Not comprehensive — just the pieces that get harder or more expensive after the first hard freeze.

**What needs to happen in the next 3–4 weeks**

**1. Any open structural shell needs a real weather envelope.** If your home burned partially and the roof or walls are compromised, a tarp over the opening is a summer fix, not a Spokane winter fix. Snow load on a tarp over a collapsed section will tear through. Options are plywood sheathing with Visqueen, batten-strapped poly, or an engineered temp cover. Even on a total loss, a basic enclosure matters for debris containment and for keeping scavengers (animal and human) out until demolition.

**2. Water lines in partially burned homes.** If utilities haven't been shut off at the meter yet, do it before freezing temps. Partial burns often leave broken supply lines inside walls that will burst at the first hard freeze — adding water damage on top of fire damage, which complicates both your insurance claim and the eventual demolition.

**3. Debris pile stabilization.** Loose ash and small debris get blown around by wind events and winter storms. If you can't haul before freeze (asbestos survey not done yet, or scheduling backlog), at minimum tarp and anchor the pile. Protects neighbors and preserves evidence for your claim.

**4. Asbestos survey, if you haven't scheduled one.** Nothing can legally be hauled before AHERA-certified survey + Notice of Intent with Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. If you push this to spring, you lose weeks of good-weather work next year. Independent AHERA inspectors in Spokane are generally scheduling within 1–2 weeks right now. SRCAA's property-owner page has the current process.

**What can realistically wait until spring**

- Full demolition, if your lot is secured and stabilized

- Landscaping and soil remediation

- Perimeter fence replacement

- Driveway and concrete work

- Rebuild permits (though the paperwork can start now)

Spring work in Spokane generally restarts late March, so a late October to late March gap is five months. Plan the paperwork during that window so you're ready when crews can get back out.

Hope this helps someone who's still working through the backlog.

(Context on who's writing: I work on the demolition and abatement side locally, so I see these timelines firsthand. Not posting a service — just the time-sensitive piece.)

**Sources**

- Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, Spokane Complex Fire guidance: https://spokanecleanair.org/asbestos/spokanecomplexfire/

- SRCAA property-owner page (fee waiver status and NOI filing): https://spokanecleanair.org/property-owners-affected-by-the-spokane-complex-fire/

- City of Spokane wildfire recovery: https://my.spokanecity.org/wildfireinfo/

- EPA 2026 Eastern Washington Wildfires Recovery: https://www.epa.gov/wa/2026-eastern-washington-wildfires-recovery


r/Wildfire • • 20h ago

Question Canadian College Student w No Certs

2 Upvotes

I'm a first year student going to school in Canada, I'm from California. I got no certifications (except general first aid) and man this process is confusing!

I'm studying forestry and would love to get up close and personal with wildfires. Possibly work in the field once I graduate.

There's so many options. BLM, Calfire, California Conservation Corps, NPS, NFS and more i'm probably forgetting. Which ones should I look at: I need to be trained in early summer (I'm back in the states in late April) and start my year 2 in September 1st.

I thought Calfire but apparently untrained guys rarely get hired. And now I've fell down the ultra-confusing rabbit hole of random letter combinations I don't understand.

Thank you. Any general recommendations or super specific advice is appreciated


r/Wildfire • • 1d ago

“Type 1 Squad Boss”

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8 Upvotes

r/Wildfire • • 1d ago

Question A couple questions about the job

3 Upvotes

Hey there everybody I had some questions about the job

1 how to find a non-militaristic crew. I’m not looking to join the Marines but get paid worse. I wanna work hard and be a professional, but I’m not looking to get yelled at and get treated like dirt if I don’t deserve it

2 is it pretty easy to make friends with your crew? currently I’m doing a fire science degree for structural firefighting and they’re having us read a rookie Guide book and a lot of it is saying you will not be well liked for your first year as a structural firefighter and you’re gonna have to do chores for everybody and get treated like a servant, is that similar in wildland?
(I don’t mind helping people out and doing my fair share, but I also don’t want to get treated like an indentured servant.)

3 how do I be a good asset to my crew? I don’t ever like the idea of being deadweight or holding people back what are some good things to do when you first get assigned to your crew to help out?

4 are there many job openings post career if I do this for a few seasons, will there be many jobs where this experience or skills transfer over well?


r/Wildfire • • 1d ago

13/13 perms on a shot crew

4 Upvotes

Is this still a thing anywhere?


r/Wildfire • • 3d ago

Another Line of Duty Death

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492 Upvotes

It been so many this year. Stay safe


r/Wildfire • • 1d ago

Image Aftermath

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0 Upvotes

r/Wildfire • • 2d ago

What do I put for these categories

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2 Upvotes

Im new to wildland and im not affiliated with any department nor agency but im wanting to get some courses done hopefully to get on this upcoming fire season or the next one but i dont know what to put


r/Wildfire • • 2d ago

Winema, Prineville, Redmond and LaGrande/union hotshots

8 Upvotes

What’s everyone personal opinion? I’m interested in potentially working on one of these crews. I’ve been wanting to move to r6. Spent plenty of time on a shot crew in R3


r/Wildfire • • 3d ago

News (General) How's everyone's night going?

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18 Upvotes

r/Wildfire • • 2d ago

Applying to every perm position in Cali

5 Upvotes

Just as the title states I went ahead and applied to every perm position in Cali in hopes of getting on somewhere. This will be my 3rd season. I just opened up my FFT1 and received my Faller 3. I also have my NREMT.

Where do you guys think Ill get picked up?


r/Wildfire • • 2d ago

Question Why have wildfires this year been much worse, larger, and more widespread in wetter PNW states (e.g. WA/OR) than other typically drier western states such as CA/NV/AZ/NM?

0 Upvotes

My random guesses are that the PNW 1) had more lightning storms that the SW missed on, 2) have more acres of active “fuel” to burn than the other already drought parched SW states where the fuel was already spent in earlier wildfires?


r/Wildfire • • 3d ago

Norte Fire

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8 Upvotes

As seen from Dana Point