Wildland Firefighter

Full Job Description

This is a Direct-Hire advertisement. Veterans preference is not applicable to this advertisement.

Learn more about this authority at: Direct Hire Authority This position is a Wildland Firefighter, GW-0456-7 working in Folkston, GA for the US Wildland Fire Service.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below. This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA).

The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday.

Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran.

If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday.

You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement.

Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration.

Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement.

If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment.

Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard.

This position has been categorized as a Senior Firefighter (SFF), and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position.

Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found here: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM).

To meet IFPM requirements, you must have possessed all of the following National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) incident management qualifications and training requirements to be considered eligible for this position (currency not required at time of referral, but may be required to obtain and maintain currency if selected): Primary Core Requirement: Engine Boss (ENGB) OR Crew Boss (CRWB) AND Secondary Core Requirement: Incident Commander, Type 5 (ICT5) Training Requirement: Portable Pumps and Water Use (S211) In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.

Only experience and education obtained by 03/04/2026 will be considered. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume.

No assumptions will be made about your experience. Minimum Qualification: GW-07 For the GW-07 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GW-06 level in the federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include: lay out and organize lines of attack for a wildland fire; locate and construct firelines; dispatch fire crews and provides onsite direction and support to crew members on the fireline; ensure availability of equipment, water, and supplies; train others in equipment safety, maintenance and use; conduct informal on-the-job fire training sessions; distribute literature and explain the fire prevention plan to the general public; use computer software for database creation, management, and manipulation (e.g., Microsoft Access, WIMS, Fire Base, etc.) IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at this grade level.

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.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

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.

Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.

Working Conditions: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc.

Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing.

Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material.

Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances.

Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time.

The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing).

Work may require travel by fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft. Major Duties:

As a Wildland Firefighter your duties will include but are not limited to the following: As an experienced leader within a wildland fire module or crew in fuels management, fire suppression, monitoring, and post-fire activities, applies an understanding of firefighter safety, fire behavior, topography of the area, weather, fuels, and training in fire management work to: 1) mentor and instruct lower graded employees on crewmember duties; 2) plan action and direct utilization of fireline resources on less complex fires; and 3) for more complex fires, direct assigned suppression operations and recommend and implement tactical strategy on attacking, controlling, or mopping up fires, building or patrolling firelines, cleaning up burned areas within firelines, suppressing spot fires, felling snags or trees, and cutting brush.

Adjusts actions based on changing information and evolving situational awareness. Uses firing devices on a firing operation according to the ignition/firing plan (verbal or written).

Coordinates with aircraft for aviation support missions. Coordinates module or crew logistics and places caches of equipment and supplies at strategic points.

Directs the operation and use of special tools and equipment such as, but not limited to power saws, portable pumps, firing devices, and communication equipment (e.g., programming radio frequencies), and makes decisions as to when, where, and how equipment can be utilized to the greatest advantage.

Directs and ensures proper assembly of equipment and supplies needed for fire assignments or daily work assignments.

May serve as an alternate in other fire program areas such as logistical dispatch, cache warehouse, incident business, and administrative support.

Directs moderately complex fuels management projects or participates in more complex hazard fuel reduction projects by conducting project assessments and gathering data (e.g., fuel quantity and conditions), planning (e.g., drafting or reviewing fuels management plans, assessing and recommending fuel treatment alternatives), preparing (e.g., ensuring proper training, placement, and instruction of crews), and implementing (e.g., ignition, holding, mop-up, and rehabilitation) treatments.

Fuels management projects include prescribed fire, and mechanical and biological treatments; inventorying fuel beds; and piling vegetation debris.

May be required to use/operate specialized firing equipment.

Leads firefighting personnel by directing their activities when suppressing wildland fires or by serving as a situational leader on wildland fires by directing the work of a small crew of firefighters in building firelines, burning out, mopping up, and patrolling firelines.

During wildland fire and fuels management assignments, directs and provides on-the-job training opportunities to lower graded firefighters on the use of tools and equipment.