Summary

This seasonal job involves leading a small team of 3-4 firefighters on wildland fire engines, handling fire suppression, prevention tasks, and maintaining equipment during Washington's summer fire season, which typically lasts 3-6 months from May to September.

It's physically demanding work with long hours outdoors, often away from home, but offers training and chances to build skills in natural resources.

A good fit would be someone reliable, hardworking, with prior outdoor experience who enjoys teamwork and wants to start a career in firefighting or forestry.

Key Requirements

3 months of previous natural resource work experience
Ability to lead and supervise a crew of 3-4 members
Capable of strenuous outdoor physical work in demanding conditions
Skills in operating and maintaining fire engines, trucks, and motorized equipment
Knowledge of wildland fire suppression, prevention, and hand-line construction
Willingness to work long hours, including time away from home, for 3-6 months seasonally
Prepared to attend 7-14 days of initial wildland fire training at the agency's academy

Full Job Description

2026 NORTHWEST REGION SUMMER WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER ENGINE LEADER

Recruitment #2025-11-EL-NW

Full-time, Exempt, Non-represented positions.

Salary: $4,185.00 - $4,778.00 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 searching for hardworking, dedicated, responsible, and reliable team members to join our Wildland Fire Engine Crews as Engine Leaders here in the Northwest Region. As an Engine Leader, you will help lead our engine crews in performing 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 while leading a team of 3-4 engine crew members. Working for the DNR as an Engine Leader 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 various learning opportunities, agency operations, and the ability to build cohesive relationships across Washington State. You will experience a different level of collaboration within the DNR, offering a lifetime worth of skills for your future career path. This opportunity and training gained 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, 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.

Requirements

What to Expect as a DNR Engine Leader:

The Engine Leader performs a leadership role within a crew. Candidates are required to have 3 months of previous natural resource work experience.

Engine Leader duties may include:Supervising and/or leading crews on the fire line, fire suppression and prevention, operating and maintaining small motorized equipment, and operating light or heavy trucks (e.g., 1-ton 4x4, 400 gal., 3-4 person fire engine).

Marking and measuring timber, cutting brush on survey lines, leading small crews to maintain roads and recreation facilities, and operating and maintaining small hand and power tools.

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, Engine Leaders and crew 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 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 18 years of age or older by your available hire date.

Engine Leaders are required to have a basic fundamental understanding of the Wildland Fire Management activities, including Fire Suppression, Mitigation, and Prevention.

This knowledge and skill sets are achieved through successful demonstration and practical experience working for one or more fire years as Wildland Firefighters.

Additionally, a fundamental understanding of wildland firefighting strategy and risk management is required to look out for the safety of fire responders and the public.

Certified as NWCG FFT2.
Engine Leaders lead a module of crew members on day-to-day activities to be prepared for and during wildland fire response. This requires the competencies related to being able to effectively communicate with supervisors and lead subordinates in wildland fire organizations.
Ability to act promptly, use good judgment in day-to-day activities and emergencies, and deal tactfully with the public and interagency partners.

Must pass the DNR work capacity test or "Pack Test" during the selection process and before starting work.

The "Pack Test" is a work capacity test that measures aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance (45lbs, 3 miles within 45 minutes), as well as pass an Annual Refresher (RT-130).

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:

A valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience.

Additionally, DNR requires state drivers to possess a license that is not suspended, revoked, or restricted (for example, Occupational/Restricted Driver Licenses or requiring ignition interlock devices).

This position requires driving as an essential function.

Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past two years.

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 workday is an 8-hour day, five days a week. Positions require response during off-duty hours for emergency fire suppression needs. This may include working 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 up to 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 larger Type 5 Wildland Fire Engines.

Desired Qualifications:

NWCG Qualification of Firefighter Type 1, Incident Commander Type 5, and Engine Boss
U.S. Passport
A high school diploma or equivalent at the time of hire.

Additional Information

Application Requirements:

To be considered, you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above).
Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
References are optional at the time your application is submitted. Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least 3 professional references with current telephone numbers, including your current or most recent supervisor.

If selected for an interview, you will be required to:

Provide a current Employment Driving Record from each state where you have held a driver’s license within the last two years. Details on how to obtain this record from Washington State can be found on the Department of Licensing website at www.dol.wa.gov.

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 DNRRecruiting@dnr.wa.gov for a copy of the HSQ.

Work Locations:The Northwest Region covers wildland fire protection, regulation, and prevention from the area just north of the greater Seattle (Snohomish/King County line), to the Canadian border, including Whidbey, Camano, and the San Juan Islands on the west to the Cascade Mountain crest on the east.

Wildland fire protection ranges from industrial forestlands to conservation landscapes, to the Wildland Urban Interface located in the developed rural and municipal communities.

Engine Crews work out of pre-determined rendezvous points strategically scattered throughout Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties to provide for fire protection response throughout the whole region and to accommodate the most efficient meeting locations for firefighters that live across a wide array of locations.

Northwest Region consists of two Fire Units.North ZoneThe Kulshan Fire Unit covers all of Whatcom and the majority of Skagit Counties. The North Zone staffs 5 four-person Engine Crews.

Engine Crews are desired to work out of the following pre-determined locations: Deming, Bellingham general area, Alger general area, Sedro-Woolley to Concrete general area.

In the application questions, please specify your preference and/or availability of work locations within the North Zone Fire Unit.

Housing may be available on a limited basis for this location.South Zone The Salish Fire Unit covers all of Snohomish, Island, San Juan, and the southern portion of Skagit Counties.

The South Zone staffs 5 four-person Engine Crews.

Engine Crews are desired to work out of the following pre-determined locations: Monroe to Snohomish general area, Arlington to Darrington general area, Sedro-Woolley to Big Lake general area, and Burlington to Anacortes general area.

In the application questions, please specify your preference and/or availability of work locations within the South Zone Fire Unit. No housing is available for this location.Questions?

Please contact the Northwest Region office at Northwest.region@dnr.wa.gov or 360-856-3500.

For more specific information about DNR Uplands Regions and how to contact those regions, please visit http://www.dnr.wa.gov/about/dnr-regions-and-districts

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.

With nearly 1,500 employees in locations throughout Washington, we manage and protect more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural, and aquatic lands.