Wildland Firefighter (Prevention)

Full Job Description

This position is located within a National Forest. The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization.

This position is responsible for development, implementation and administration of the unit's Fire Prevention Program.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

GW-06: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GW-05 grade level in federal service or equivalent. GW-06: There is no substitution of education for this position.

Examples of specialized experience include: Performing suppression operations and instructing others during initial attack or assisting with prescribed burns.

Giving formal talks and informally providing information on fire prevention laws, rules, and regulations. Issuing various permits and ensuring users were in compliance with rules and regulations.

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.

In accordance with USDA Department Regulation 4430-792-2, this position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the USDA Drug Free Workplace Program and subject to pre-employment drug testing.

All applicants selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Incumbents of this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis on an ongoing random basis, after appointment as directed.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

• Provides input for fire prevention plans and prescribed burn plans. Assists with establishment of fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation.
• Assists with planning, analyzing, coordinating, organizing and developing comprehensive Wildfire Prevention Analysis Plans for the unit. Gathers, processes, analyzes and interprets risk, hazards and values needed to prepare these plans.
• Plans for cost effective and efficient fire prevention programs within the budget. Assists with preparation of annual financial and budgetary plans for the prevention program.
• Creates new prevention/education opportunities to meet program goals. As available, uses Wildfire Prevention Spatial Assessment and Planning Strategies (WPSAPS) to draft District Prevention Plan.
• Assists with staffing and executing prevention activities and events. Plans exhibits and events for fire prevention/education activities. Plans, organizes, schedules and directs group prevention/education contacts at local entities.
• Works directly with personnel from other State and Federal agencies and local rural fire departments to present fire prevention and education messages to a wide variety of users.
• Coordinates with local law enforcement personnel for violations of State Law, juvenile fire-setter contacts and other violations. Independently analyzes person caused fires and determines needs for prevention emphasis.
• Prepares reports and obtains information for possible use in apprehension and conviction of trespassers, arsonists, or other violators. May participate as a witness in court actions and testify concerning investigative findings.
• Makes presentations or talks as required. Recommends or prepares public service announcements where appropriate with assistance from Forest's staff.
• Enforces existing regulations found in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) within the boundaries of Forest Service Policy to prevent loss and or damage to forest resources.
• Functions as a Forest Protection Officer with authority to write Notices of Violation and Incident Reports.
• Coordinates and conducts fire prevention inspections and provides technical advice and guidance to Forest Service personnel and other industrial operations.
• Ensure compliance with fire precautionary requirements, waivers, public use restrictions and substitute measures.
• Ensures all are advised of corrective actions needed to mitigate hazardous conditions. As part of fire prevention inspections, designates corrective action required for fire precaution regulations. Works with COR or Sale Administrator in the process.
• Issues burning or campfire permits for the Unit with regards to fire danger levels, monitors for compliance/non-compliance and manages records.
• Assists with unit Prevention/Education sign management programs. Prepares, maintains, orders inventory in a timely manner and coordinates with personnel for posting when required.
• Performs suppression operations as qualified on fire management unit.
• As assigned, receives reports of fires, plots locations, and initiates action to responding forces. Maintains records and reports including individual fire reports, fire resource orders, and incident action records.
• Assists with the unit's fire detection program as required.
• As assigned gathers, processes, analyzes, interprets and comments on information needed for development of fuel treatment plans which may include prescribed fire, timber sales, fuel modifications to provide defensible space and fuel break projects.