Forestry Technician (Fire Engine Captain)

Company: Department Of The Interior
Location: Alturas
Posted on: June 9, 2021

Job Description:

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Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

We are filling positions in the following locations:

• Susanville, CA (two positions) -- Visit Susanville and Lassen Park
• Alturas, CA (one position) -- Visit California, Modoc County
• Apple Valley, CA (one position) -- Visit Apple Valley
• Banning, CA (one position) -- City of Banning

We expect to fill five vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this job posting. Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Responds to wildland fire incidents and positions engine in appropriate locations in consideration of the safety of crew and equipment.
• Evaluates on-site conditions, makes tactical decisions, and determines appropriate responses.
• Makes initial size up of fire situations, determines suppression method to use including hose lay types, deployment of crew, point of initial attack, type of tools to use, and application of water, and hand line location and standards.
• Maintains and is responsible for records and prepares reports on crew hours and movement and history of action taken on fires.
• Serves as initial attack Incident Commander on wildland fires in remote forest/range environment, and in wildland urban interface/intermix situations.
• Plans and directs work, performs risk analyses, develops and communicates objectives, revises and/or develops new approaches in view of changing incident conditions.
• Provides training on fire suppression procedures, fire line construction, hose lays, use of appropriate personal protection equipment, fire engine tactics, fire behavior, water and pumps.
• Procures, maintains, and inventories tools and equipment, including tools, equipment, provisions, and personal protective equipment to ensure that assigned personnel meet fire readiness standards on a daily basis.
• Directs project work in support of ecosystem management , development of prescribed fire burn plans, pre-attack planning, brush disposal, fuels unit preparation, and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation and analysis.
• Provides technical and administrative leadership to an Engine Module throughout the fire season.
• Reviews work daily, weekly, or monthly, assuring all standards are met.

Travel Required

75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

8

• Job family (Series)

0462 Forestry Technician

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
• Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
• This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
• This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
• You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• You must pass a pre-employment physical.
• You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wild land fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualifications.
• You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
• You must possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Class A, B or C endorsement.
• Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• This is a Bargaining Unit position.
• BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factors: This position is subject to the lnteragency Fire Program (IFPM) Standard and Guide selective placement factors for a Supervisory Engine Operator (SEOP). This position requires the following qualifications - Currency Not Required:

• ENGB, Engine Boss, and
• ICT5, Incident Command Type 5, and
• S-211, Portable Pumps and Water Use

90 Day Prior Wildland Firefighting Experience Requirement (resume must show to and from dates and a description of work performed). The Department of the Interior defines wild land firefighting experience as on-the-line wildland firefighting experience gained through containment, control, suppression, or use of wild land fire. This experience can be met by serving in a temporary, seasonal, or equivalent private sector fire position for no less than 90 days. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited, as long as the total amount of this experience equates to at least 90 days.

Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fire:

Wildfire - An unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.

Prescribed Fire - Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Specialized Experience OR Education: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples:

For the GS-08: Serving as a Fire Engine Operator, directing the operation of a wildland fire engine, ensuring the correct positioning, proper use and operation; Starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, appropriate use and adjustment of nozzles; Monitor fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collect fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Operate chainsaw and performs basic repairs.

• OR

Education: Two years of graduate level coursework towards a Master's degree directly related to wildland firefighting.

• OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

For the GS-07: Serving as Assistant Fire Engine Operator, operating a wildland fire engine, assisting in the correct positioning, proper use and operation; Starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, appropriate use and adjustment of nozzles; Monitor fire behavior, fire effects, and fire weather. Collect fire data such as fuel loading, tree stand density, fuel moisture, and maintains records. Operate chainsaw and performs basic repairs.

• OR

Education: Two years of graduate level coursework towards a Master's degree directly related to wildland firefighting.

• OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level.

This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c)(CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements.

The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37 unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian firefighter experience 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 will result in loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age 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.

Physical Demands: Duties involve rigorous fieldwork requiring above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. Work requires 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 strenuous activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Duties include demands for strenuous activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Operation of some specialized fire equipment can place extended physical stress on the incumbent during fire activities.

Work Environment: The work is primarily performed in forest and range environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with vegetation, and in smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures vary from above 100 degrees Fahrenheit to below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Personnel must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor sleeping and eating conditions and unpredictable sets of circumstances. Incumbent 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 (boots, hardhat, gloves, flame resistant clothing, etc.). Work may require travel by light fixedwing or rotor-wing aircraft, and operating fire trucks (engines) under adverse conditions.

Education

If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information.

Keywords: Department Of The Interior, Redding , Forestry Technician (Fire Engine Captain), Other , Alturas, California