I joked down at my local volunteer fire station tonight that I wanted to get in good enough shape to fight forest fires this Summer. That got me to thinking could I actually do that for a month or two this Summer? What credentials do they look for, and what is the pay like? Are there certain courses that are considered essential in order to be considered? How about so called “fire jumpers” that really sounds like fun. Would the pay be enough to at least pay my gas and lodging?
Start with your state department of forestry or department of environmental resources. Call now to find out who the district forester is and when provisional testing will take place.
The latest test is a timed walk with weighted backpack-you must complete said walk within x time to be qualified. Assuming you passed that phase, you’ll attend a weekend training camp. Camp consists of awakening at the crack of a chicken’s butt, eating, and learning to take orders, march, and cut line until late at night. You’ll perhaps learn the basics of ‘spiking’ or putting together a tent on clean soil in the middle of nowhere, caring for your feet, your tools, and learning the rules of wildland fire behavior, along with emergency shelter deployment. Your performance and ability to work with crew members will be evaluated by the ‘bosses’ and if they like what they see, you may be eligible for call-up. Your work or schooling must be cool with you taking off for a minimum two weeks at a time, given less than 24 hours notice. The state may provide some of your gear, but footwear, pistol belt with canteens, basic backpack, etc. are on you. Again-what you must supply will be reviewed at training camp. Footwear alone will cost $125+ for safe forestry approved boots. Enjoy. 
Yes, and I’ll just add this drive-by to emphasize the hard part.
I’ve known a small number of people that have gotten their Red cards (sort of the cert that can allow you to work on Federal fires), and I’ve known two people that have actually worked as wild-land fire fighters. Although the pay is good, it’s a fairly risky endeavour, and it is incredibly tiring and difficult.
I would like to do this along with King Crab fishing in Alaska mainly to say that “I have”
Fighting forest fires is not the same as fighting building fires. While many of the concepts are the same and/or similar, it’s a whole different ballgame.
Huh? If you really want to consider doing it, you make yourself available for the season. You don’t do it for a lark, to prove something to yourself, or God forbid, someone else. It’s serious business. Fire fighting is a true team operation.
There are national standards for fire fighting. It’s bookwork and practical exercises. And no matter how “good” you are, or maybe think you are, if you have no qualifying experience you start out at the bottom.
You are talking the elite of the elite. Forget it. No chance. You gotta work your way up that road and it’s a tough one. I know a few of the elite of the elite of the elite. It’s very dangerous work. Whatever “fun” there may be as a smokejumper is lost in the mission.
Maybe yes and maybe no.
If you really are serious, start here -----> http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/people/index.html and devour everything you can read.
Then go here -----> http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/people/employment/index.html and read up on how to apply. But be quick. Applications are accepted in January and it may already be too late.
I was a volunteer fire fighter for a bit and spent ten years fighting fires on the fire line. I’ve been on hotshot crews, done helitack, etc. Now I’m on a national incident team (there are only 16 in the entire country) and two Type II incident teams in overhead. I’ve also participated in fire investigations like Thirtymile. I may not be on the fireline in my current duties, but I’m still required to pull 16 hour days for a minimum of two weeks solid (no time off). It’s not uncommon during a hot season to pull a two-week stint, be off the mandatory R&R and go back to the same fire (or different one) for another two-week stint.
I’m not required to hold a fireline-qualified Red Card, but that will not stop me from taking the physical test to see if I can this year. (There are always instances when a fire does its own thing and turns on the best of us. It’s quite possible that things can happen so fast that those of us in overhead at base camp have to pick up a shovel, pulaski, etc., and pull line duty.)
Fire safety is gospel above everything else. Still there are injuries and deaths every season. You really don’t want to be on a fire where a death has occurred.
The food is great, and lots of it. There are national standards for food. Sometimes it gets boring rather quickly. Then again, I’ve been on fires where the food quality, preparation and actual taste will beat a five-star restaurant anywhere with every in camp dinner meal. You quickly learn what to eat to keep you fit and healthy and not go overboard. And food isn’t wasted. Every fire has excess food the crews don’t consume. It’s collected and donated locally to shelters and the locals who need it most.
Oh, anything illegal is dealt with harshly. If you are into an occasional joint or something else, forget it. Caught once and you are out. Period. While state fires may have their own rules, get caught with illegal drugs on a federal fire and they will throw the book at you. You will do time. I’ve been on fires where we caught one person on a 20-person crew with one joint. He went to jail and the entire crew was sent home in disgrace, for the rest of the season. You can bet your 19 other team members will get their justice out of you later, I promise you.
Good luck.
Well here’s the thing I live in Indiana so almost any fire would involve a “major” trip out West. On the up side as a full time student I have my Summers off (and my job is extemely flexible). I was thinking of going after the certification this Summer and then applying next Jan.
I say with the utmost caution given the forum and I don’t at all mean to be personally insulting here, but whatever I know about your personality in addition to what motivations you’ve shared in this thread leads me to caution you strongly against this. I don’t forsee this episode going well.
Size 11 minimum, D or E widths preferred.
I only know one guy who fought forest fires. He was 6’6", probably weighed 250lbs and didn’t have an ounce of fat anywhere on his body. He told me that team work and co-operation are the most important things that keep you alive. That and the ability to run for several miles carrying an eighty pound back pack.
It’s definitely not a job to be done for a giggle.
Personally, I think its the type of tough goal that could help me succeed in my battle to lose weight and get in better shape. In highschool I wanted to be a Navy SEAL more than anything (I my best friend had gone in the SEALS when I was in tenth grade). My goal was enough to motivate me to exercise about four hours per day six or seven days per week. I literally ran seven miles to school in the morning and often (but not always) ran another seven miles home at night. In addition, I got to the point where I could do hundreds of push ups and about 30 Pull ups. I also worked part time so that I could afford Scuba, shooting, and survival lessons during the Summers. Well, it turns out that my uncorrected vision (they used something called a BVE I think which combined your corrected and uncorrected vision) was not good enough to go to BUDS (although I was the only guy out of 15 in my company who tried out in Boot Camp at Great Lakes to make it through the selection fitness test which consisted of swimming followed almost immediately by push ups, sit ups, pull ups, and running . ) Anyway, they gave me a “waiver” so that I could go into EOD, but it wasn’t the same. Frankly, I have had anything in my life that really motivated me the way my dream of becoming a SEAL did in the time since. I think that getting in good enough shape to do this might come close. It would also make me one of the better trained volunteers on my Dept.
When it comes to wildland fire fighting you have to already be in shape in order to pass the work capacity test.
That’s why it’s a goal. I’m 35 and would like to do this by the time I’m 38. Hell man I still haven’t given up on climbing Everest or K-2 without Oxygen!
I agree with threemae.
Roland, I only know you through your posts here.
You come across as an amiable chap with a ‘grasshopper’ mind, who wants to dive straight in at the highest level, to ‘prove something’ to yourself.
Read the early posts in this thread again.
You are chatting about firefighting and decide that the toughest job available ‘sounds like fun’. One of your concerns is whether it pays your expenses.
You can spare ‘a month or two’ to do it.
Duckster was a volunteer fire fighter for a bit and then spent **ten years ** fighting fires on the fire line. He’s still required to pull 16 hour days for a minimum of two weeks solid (no time off). He states categorically that ‘You don’t do it for a lark, to prove something to yourself, or God forbid, someone else. It’s serious business. Fire fighting is a true team operation.’
By all means find something to challenge yourself with. But please consider any dangers involved, and don’t take on a serious responsibility (where lives depend on you) with your casual attitude. Start small and work up.
There is a 58 year old guy at my Volunteer Dept who claims he is going to do it this Summer (granted he was a professional Fire Fighter for 30 years and was also an Army Ranger for many years as well). However, he has said that he would work and train with me if I really want to do it.
I am serious. Hell, I’m serious about wanting to climb Everest. However, I will admit that doing a solo accent without Oxygen might be a stretch.
Well, if you’re serious and this is capable of motivating you, go ahead and try it. I’m not sure it will work out, but that isn’t true for anyone. I’m sure that people in that line of work get drawn into it for all sorts of reasons and you may come to find that it’s your calling.
Good luck.
I just want to echo everything Duckster said. I spent four years as a wildland firefighter, both with the USFS and the State of Minnesota. I’ve done primarily engine crew work but some hotshot work as well.
It is extremely serious work, and it’s a team effort. You have to be able to do your part without bitching. You also have to accept that you won’t always know what’s going on and take direction from your crew boss and squad boss. Project fires are huge, tens of thousands of acres much of the time, and they involve lots of hiking. In addition, 16 hour days are the standard.
If you’re serious about doing it, you’ll have to do the training on your own. Call either the state or the Forest Service and tell them you’re interested in taking S-130 and S-190. Those are the 2 classes required to get your red card. You’ll also have to do the Work Capacity Test (aka Pack Test). This consists of carrying a 45-pound pack 3 miles in 45 minutes or less. You are not allowed to run. Once you have your training, you can talk to the state or the feds about a casual firefighting position.
St. Urho
Squad Boss