r/Wildfire Apr 25 '21

Should you die on the job

327 Upvotes

Hey guys, have one of those uncomfortable type of questions. It’s been a while since I’ve filled out a beneficiary form and now that I have a kid coming into the world, it’s time to change my death wishes. A google search provided me the recognition of the Beneficiary Form for unpaid benefits (SF 1152), in which you designate a percentage of your unpaid benefits to your loved ones/“beneficiaries”. Now here’s my questions:

1) How much will a beneficiary actually receive if allotted say 100% of my unpaid benefits? What and how much $ are my unpaid benefits?

2) I remember at some point, writing down a description of how I would like my funeral procession to proceed, and filling that out along with the aforementioned form, but I can’t find that one. Anybody recollect the name of that form or have a form # they can provide me?

Thanks everybody


r/Wildfire Apr 27 '22

**How to Get a Job as a Wildland Firefighter*

440 Upvotes

How to apply for a Fed Job (USFS, BLM, BIA, FWS) - Revised 07/29/2023

  • Apply to jobs in Sept.-Feb. on https://www.usajobs.gov . Search for things such as “forestry aid, fire, and 0462.”
    • Use filters in the sidebar, set grade to "GS3 and GS4". Under the "more filters" tab you can toggle "Seasonal, Summer, Temporary, and Full Time"
    • Be sure to read each job description to make sure it is for fire. There are other jobs that fall under "Forestry Aide/ Tech." that do not involve wildland fire.
    • Applications for Federal Jobs are only accepted during a narrow (2 week long) window nowadays. You can find out when this window is by calling prospective employers or checking USAJobs weekly.
  • Build a profile on USAjobs and create a resume. Kind of a pain in the ass, but it's just a hurdle to screen out the unmotivated. Just sit down and do it.
    • In your resume, be sure to include hours worked and contact info for references along with permission to contact said references.
  • Call around to various districts/forests/parks you're interested in working for. Do this between early October and February. The earlier in that time period, the better.
    • Hiring officials keep track of who called, when, and how good they sounded. Just call the front desk and ask for whoever does the hiring for "fire."
    • Have a few lines rehearsed about why you want the job and why you're worth hiring. Leave a voicemail if the person is out of the office. Ask questions about what firefighting resources they have (handcrew, engine, lookouts, helicopter, etc, basically what job they can even offer you), when to apply, how to apply, IF they are even hiring...
  • You can leave a message and Fire Managers will usually call you back. Applying online is basically only a formality. Talking to or physically visiting potential employers is the only way to go. People drive out from NY and Maine to talk to crew bosses out West all the time and are usually rewarded with a job for doing so.
  • Have a resume ready to email or hand-in, and offer to do so.
  • It helps to keep a spreadsheet or some notes of all the places you've called, who you talked to, what firefighting resources they have, the deadline for hiring, and generally how the convo went.
  • Apply to 15+ positions. It's hard to get your foot in the door, but totally do-able.
  • If they sound excited and interested in YOU, then you'll probably get an offer if all your paperwork goes through.
  • Unlike the many lines of work, Wildland Firefighting resumes can be 10+ pages long. The longer and more detailed the better. List the sports you've played, whether you hunt or workout, and go into detail about your middle school lawn mowing business - seriously. You are applying to a manual labor job, emphasizing relevant experience.
  • Also have a short resume for emailing. Don't email your ungodly long USAjobs resume.
  • You wont get an offer if you haven't talked to anyone.
    • If you do get an offer from someone you haven't talked to, its usually a red-flag (hard to fill location for a reason). Ex. Winnemucca, NV
  • Start working out. Expect high school sports levels of group working out starting the 1st day of work (running a few miles, push ups, pull ups, crunches, etc).
  • The pack test, the 3miles w/ 45lbs in 45 mins, is a joke. Don't worry about that, only horrifically out of shape people fail it.

- Alternatives to Fed Jobs - Revised 07/29/2023

  • There are also contractors, such as Greyback and Pat-Rick, mostly based in Oregon, with secondary bases around the west. Not as good of a deal, because it's usually on-call work, the pay is lower, and it's a tougher crowd, but a perfectly fine entry-level position. If you can hack it with them, you can do the job just fine.
  • Also look into various state dept. of natural resources/forestry. Anywhere there are wildfires, the state and counties have firefighter jobs, not as many as the Feds, but definitely some jobs. I just don't know much about those.
  • You could also just go to jail in California and get on a convict crew...
  • I wouldn't bother applying to easy-to-Google programs (e.g. Great Northern or North Star crews in MT and AK respectively), as the competition for the 1/2 dozen entry-level jobs is way too intense. A remote district in a po-dunk town is your best bet for getting your foot in the door if you're applying remotely. I started in such a place in the desert of southern Idaho and then moved onto a much nicer setting, up in Montana.
  • Also look into the Nature Conservancy, they have fire crews, as do the California/Montana/Arizona/Minnesota Conservation Corps, and the various USDL Job Corps programs that are run by the Forest Service.

- QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED

Surprisingly few.

  • 18+ years old
  • GED or high school grad
  • relatively clean criminal record (you can have a felony/DUI, etc).
  • A driver's license is required by the Feds, even if you have a DUI, you still need a valid DL
  • A pre-work drug screening is a possibility. The Department of Interior (Park Service & BLM) always drug tests. The Forest Service usually doesn't, but certainly can. Wildland Firefighters are a conservative bunch and open drug use is generally not tolerated. It's a good idea to be able to piss clean and not talk about past drug use.
  • A degree helps, but is by no means necessary.
  • You do have to have some sort of desirable skill or quality though. I mean, if you're just uneducated, unskilled, and out of shape, it's not gonna work out for you even if you do get hired. An EMT certification, even w/o experience, is probably the best "sure bet" for getting a job as a wildland firefighter, but landscaping/manual labor experience, military time, some education, even just being in really good shape and/or having a lot of sports team experience are all good enough

- FAQs

For federal jobs**, if you haven't applied by the end of February, you are probably too late, sometimes there are late postings, but your chances greatly decrease at finding a job.**

  • Hotshot crews and smokejumping are not for rookies. Don't waste their time or your breath by calling
  • .You CAN apply if you have ZERO EXPERIENCE and still have a decent chance at getting a job
  • You DO NOT need EMT, while it is somewhat beneficial, it is by no means needed to get your first fire job
  • Calfire does not hire people with zero experience and zero qualifications.

/TLDR

  • Apply to jobs in Sept-Feb on https://www.usajobs.gov . Search for things such as “forestry aid, fire, and 0462.”
  • Make long resume
  • Apply to multiple locations
  • Call the locations
  • Get in better shape

Thanks to u/RogerfuRabit for the previous post on how to get a job in WF.


r/Wildfire 10h ago

Image Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Trail

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125 Upvotes

This place was absolutely beautiful, and the silence at the fatality sign was deafening. Long live the Yarnell 19


r/Wildfire 2h ago

Humor Kids say the darndest things

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10 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

Remember..

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2.2k Upvotes

r/Wildfire 9h ago

The fact that these aren’t already in the lunches baffles me

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34 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 14h ago

News (General) Forest Service Layoffs Push Firefighters to Clean Toilets and Mow Lawns

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41 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 5h ago

Them VFDs are at it again...

7 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 7h ago

Discussion Square ground chain

6 Upvotes

I was wondering y’all’s thoughts on square ground chain in a wild fire setting. I personally don’t have any experience with it, but we’ve all seen the videos of it being objectively faster cutting through wood. All the resources I’ve worked with use round, myself included. My main concern would be field sharpening and hitting rocks or metal. Does square need more work to get back into order once the corner gets knocked off? Is field maintenance even viable without vices? Could you keep a square grinding sharpener back at station and then run round filed chain once you ran out of square? I currently run round filed chain, but in the pursuit of cutting faster and spending less time under the tree I’d like y’all’s input


r/Wildfire 1d ago

CA IMT 7 set those crews up

112 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 17h ago

Discussion Kenetrek Wildland Boots

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18 Upvotes

Hey! If you're around Southwest Montana and need a new pair of boots, I've got a pair of 10.5 wide that are nearly brand new that I'm listing for $300 on local pages, but would sell for $250 straight to one of y'all. They are $450 new, so save yourself a couple hundred bucks. They're great, but were way too big for me (I ordered too big of a size, plus they seem to run a little large on top of that, so they were like clown boots on me haha). I wore them for one assignment, but I was a driver, so they weren't abused by any means.

I'm in Dillon but will be up in Helena today.


r/Wildfire 14h ago

Question for hiring managers

7 Upvotes

Yea kinda just a frustrated rant but can someone explain the back door deals captains/overhead make when picking people for their mods with the upcoming season?

During the interview, I straight up mentioned I was way more interested in one mod vs. another. Fast forward I’m offered the job on the engine(or so I thought), but now I go to do onboarding, says I’ve been selected for the helitack spot. Somewhat annoyed but still tryna keep a positive outlook since it’s not the end of the world really


r/Wildfire 13h ago

Hiring

4 Upvotes

If I go into a ranger station and ask for the emails of the hiring managers or like the hiring officers for the fire hiring well the front desk give it to me? Because I can’t find any of their emails posted online.


r/Wildfire 13h ago

How can I get into wildland firefighting while serving in the National Guard?

2 Upvotes

I’m 20, from NY, and currently in the Army National Guard (infantry). I’m really interested in getting into wildland firefighting and I’m willing to relocate for the right opportunity. I feel like my Guard training and fitness background would help, but I’m not sure how realistic it is to balance fire season with drills and annual training. Has anyone here done both? How do you handle conflicts when Guard duties overlap with an assignment, and what certs or steps should I start working on now to improve my chances of getting hired? Any advice would be huge.


r/Wildfire 20h ago

dollar for dollar

10 Upvotes

I'm sure this is a complicated calculation, but for the hell of it, what do you figure is most effective, dollar for dollar, water bombers or hand crews?


r/Wildfire 9h ago

Question Unpaid/underpaid Survey

0 Upvotes

If you have, are currently , or have had subordinates go unpaid and/or underpaid with the USFS in FY25; please respond to the poll above and if you are willing, please send me a direct message as I am conducting a survey for data collection purposes for a potential OIG complaint. Your information can remain confidential and anonymous if you so choose. This is for the greater good and accountability needs to occur. There is strength in numbers. And statistics move mountains. Please respond to this with an open mind and open heart. One team, one mission. Thank you in advance for your time and attention.

8 votes, 2d left
I have gone unpaid
I have gone underpaid
I have subordinates that fall into one or both of the above listed categories.

r/Wildfire 18h ago

Question Training advice

4 Upvotes

Im in the Marines right now, and I have two years left in my contract, but I want to start training now. I just don't really know what to focus on. Some people say focus on bodyweight others say on lifting and some people day run while others say hike.

Edit-For people wondering what my MOS is, im a 0331 or machine gunner


r/Wildfire 1d ago

Close the goddamn shitter lid

226 Upvotes

DID YOU KNOW that there is arcane technology built into porta shitters? See that tube that comes out the top? FACT It's called a stink tube. If you close the lid after doing your thing, the whole thing doesn't fill up with methane and smell like a goddamn sewer. It's very complex, I know. But if you take the crayons out of your mouth for one second and think about it, it might make sense. Signed a guy who doesn't want to smell your breakfast. CERRAR LA TAPA

P.s. I don't know who puts toilet paper in the urinals but you have a special place in hell


r/Wildfire 1d ago

Gallery A fire near my house

78 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

Bear Gulch immigration raid

182 Upvotes

Hey r/Wildfire — I'm a Seattle-based reporter working on a story about the immigration raid at the Bear Gulch Fire. Hoping to get more info from anyone who's been out there or has an account of what happened. Also looking for insight about the larger implications of immigration enforcement at active wildfires. I can talk off the record or on background with anyone who's willing to share. Please PM me if you'd like to connect. Thanks!


r/Wildfire 17h ago

Question Permanent Dispatch

2 Upvotes

I'm transitioning out of the Air Force in a couple months and I've been looking at potential jobs. Wildfire has always interested me but I don't think it's something I'd want to do long term due to the strain on your body. I was thinking of doing a season or 2 of wildfire then getting into dispatch. My only problem: Are permanent full time dispatch jobs common? I don't want to only have a job in the summer and then have to fnd something else the remainder of the year. I found this listing on USA Jobs that's labeled as full time/permanent but I'm wondering is it rare to find one with this appointment schedule? Just looking for a permanent career that makes me feel like I'm contributing something to the place I love. I'll be living in Northern California.


r/Wildfire 2d ago

Federal Agents Arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire

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604 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

Worst food this year on a roll?

5 Upvotes

Hands down- Dragon Bravo.

What say you?


r/Wildfire 2d ago

Federal agents arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire

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174 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 2d ago

Image Green engine in its natural habitat

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138 Upvotes

Lightning watch is actually really fun, who would’ve thought??


r/Wildfire 19h ago

Image After the fire

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0 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

BK Radio Models

0 Upvotes

Are we using BK LPH model radios or just R models? New to coms, trying to find out if it will send and receive or just receive.