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Posted: January 9, 2026 (6 days ago)

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WILDLAND FIRE & RESOURCE TECH 2-3 / Pioneer Peak IHC Overhead (PCN 10-9816, +3)

State of Alaska

Natural Resources

Fresh

Location

Salary

$27.25 - $30.80

per hour

Closes

February 10, 2026More State jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a team of firefighters on a specialized wildland fire crew, supervising daily operations, directing fire suppression efforts, and training others in fire safety and equipment use, all while handling administrative tasks.

It's based in Alaska but includes travel to remote fire sites across the US and Canada, with long periods of intense physical work in tough outdoor conditions.

A good fit would be someone with strong leadership skills, physical endurance, and a passion for teamwork in high-stakes emergency response.

Key Requirements

  • Experience supervising 10-20 firefighters on a Type I Interagency Hotshot Crew
  • Ability to serve as Incident Commander on low-complexity wildland fires, including leading firing and holding operations
  • Proficiency in instructing NWCG courses and developing training on wildland fire principles
  • Hands-on skills in digging hand lines, operating power saws, chainsaws, and water pumps
  • Strong physical fitness for heavy labor, long hikes, and extended remote assignments (14-21 days)
  • Leadership competencies including team building, resilience under pressure, and ethical integrity
  • Willingness to commit to 100+ days per year on incidents, often in tents without modern amenities

Full Job Description


The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting for multiple Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 2/3 positions in Palmer, Alaska.


This position is open to all applicants.


What You Will Be Doing:

  • Provide daily supervision for 10-20 Firefighters on a Type I Interagency Hotshot Crew.
  • Perform as an Incident Commander during the initial attack of low complexity wildland fires, lead firing and holding operations on initial attack or extended attack fires, provide input on fire line placement, and provide thorough safety briefings for assigned firefighters.
  • Ability and experience in instructing NWCG courses and willingness to develop and lead training in basic wildland fire principles.
  • Digging hand lines, operating power saws, and water pumps.
  • Position may operate chainsaws and teach their use to subordinates.
  • Position requires completing various administrative duties throughout the year.


Mission and Values/Culture:

The Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew is a State of Alaska Wildfire Crew whose main objective is to support Alaska and the United States with a production-oriented fire management service and all hazard response.

Pioneer Peak IHC is a group of 25 individuals dedicated to overcoming all odds together to provide a reliable and competent crew of Type 1 Wildland Fire Operators.

Our goal is to build better people, firefighters, and leaders through hard work and dedication.

Duty, Respect, and Integrity are applied to all aspects of our work as professional wildland firefighters.


Benefits of Joining Our Team:

  • As a Leader on Pioneer Peak IHC, you will work with a highly efficient, very productive team that uses clear communication and aggressive tactics to accomplish goals safely and effectively.
  • You will push yourself mentally and physically to help the crew grow and improve daily.
  • You will be a part of something greater than yourself and have a sense of family and civic purpose.


The Working Environment You Can Expect:

  • Based out of Palmer, Alaska.
  • Dispatched nationally and to Canada to respond to fires and all risk incidents.
  • Working and living in remote environments with no internet or cell service.
  • 14-21 days hiking to work and performing manual labor tasks.
  • You will be committed to incidents for 100+ days a year and will sleep in a tent most nights.
  • Working as a single resource or as part of a team.


We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.

  • Physical Strength and Agility: Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.
  • Team Building: Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.
  • Resilience: Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
  • Leadership: Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.
  • Integrity/Honesty: Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.


Click here to learn more about working for the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.

Requirements

Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 2- starting salary $27.25 per hour

Six months of trainee or entry-level wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience. The required experience is met by service as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

And
Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).


Wildland Fire & Resource Technician 3- starting salary $30.80 per hour

Twelve months of wildland fire fighting or forestry field experience, of which at least six months was at the developmental level. The required developmental experience is met by service as a Wildland Fire and Resource Technician 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

And
Red Card qualification under the National Incident Qualification System (see required job qualifications special note).


Education substitution applies to the Wildland Fire & Resource Technicians 2 and 3Completed coursework from an accredited college or vocational-technical school in forestry, fire science, or a closely related field may substitute for six months of general field experience.

(For college 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours equal one month of work experience.

Transcripts or a letter from a vocational-technical school must indicate a college credit equivalency for the completed coursework.

For example, at Alaska Vocational Technical Center: Forest Ecology = 3 semester credits; Forest Regeneration = 2 semester credits; Timber Harvesting and Sale Administration = 4 semester credits; and Wildland Fire Management = 3 semester credits.)


There is no substitution for the six months of developmental experience.

There is no substitution for the National Incident Qualification System (Red Card) qualifications.

Special Notes:

  • Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age.
  • Most positions require National Incident Qualification System certifications.

    Because there are different specialty areas in this field, recruitment and selection will be made from among those candidates who meet the experience and the basic National Incident Qualification System training requirements specifically listed within the recruitment bulletin.

    The specialty areas are within one of the following functions: fire operations, wildland fire prevention, and aviation support.

  • Applicant must pass the Work Capacity Test at the "Arduous" level as defined in Federal Publication PMS 307, Work Capacity Test Administrator's Guide. This test requires that the applicant complete a 3-mile hike carrying a 45-pound pack over level terrain in 45 minutes or less.
  • Applicant must possess an Alaska driver's license. An individual without an Alaska driver's license who meets the minimum age and experience requirements may apply for the vacancy.

    An applicant qualifying under this option may receive a job offer conditional upon the acquisition of an Alaska driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

  • Positions may require travel both in and out-of-state for fire suppression assignments; stand-by or recall status during the fire season; availability for assignments in and out of the area that requires absence from the duty station for 14 to 21 days; flying in small fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters; and handling hazardous materials.
  • Some positions may require a commercial driver's license with appropriate endorsements.

Qualifications

** Please read the information below carefully. **


At the time of application, the applicant must attach the following items as individual documents; failure to provide the requested documentation will result in non-consideration. If you are unable to attach documents, please fax or email the contact listed below. Required documents include:

  • Proof of FFT1/ICT5/FAL2 qualification via Red Card or IQCS/IQS Master Record.

At the time of the interview, please ensure that you provide the following materials. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration. Required documents include:

  • Resume.
  • Three professional references.
  • Driver’s license.
  • Passport (if you have one).


SPECIAL NOTICES

  • Proof of qualification via Red Card or IQCS/IQS Master Record at time of application.
  • This position requires frequent travel within Alaska, Canada & the Lower 48 States, for periods of up to 30 days.
  • This position requires a commitment to working long hours, sometimes exceeding 16 hours per day.
  • This position requires the ability to work and live in remote, primitive locations with a limited ability to communicate with our friends & family while on assignment.


Classification Study Notice

This position is currently under review as part of the Forest and Fire Management job class study. Therefore, both the title and the assigned pay range may be subject to change upon completion of the study.


Application Notice

You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application. Instructions on how to apply can be found on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage (link). Your application must be received by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.


Supplemental Questions

For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions.

The State of Alaska (SOA) utilizes four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s level of competence in applying certain behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task.

The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.


Education

If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application.

If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed.

Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.


Special Instructions for Foreign Education

Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above.

If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S.

education programs. Alternatively, an accredited U.S.

post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula.

It is your responsibility to provide this evidence when applying.


Work Experience

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full or part-time.

Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether the minimum qualifications are met.

If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.


Note: Attaching a resume is not a substitute for completing the application in its entirety. Noting, "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.


Bargaining Unit

If you are a current state employee, please indicate the union to which you belong at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.


Flexible Staffing

This position is flexibly staffed. The level of the job offer will be based on the selected candidate’s eligibility. If hired at the lower level, you will be promoted to the higher-level job class after completing the training plan and meeting the minimum qualifications.


Driver’s License Requirement

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.


Firearms

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.


A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.


If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.


Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.


EEO STATEMENTThe State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O.

Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Additional Information

If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure that your email address is correct on your application and that your spam filter will permit emails from the governmentjobs.com domain.


Workplace Alaska Application Questions & Assistance

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.


For assistance with your password, please visit the password reset page.


For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:


Kris Baumgartner

Crew Superintendent

FAX: 907-761-6319

Phone: 907-841-9716

Email: kris.baumgartner@alaska.gov

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Posted on NEOGOV: 1/9/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/10/2026

Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-alaska-5193910