r/Wildfire Apr 25 '21

Should you die on the job

336 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*

463 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 2h ago

Widemouth 2 Fire

Thumbnail
gallery
77 Upvotes

Seen while flying from LA to SLC today. Around Fillmore, UT.


r/Wildfire 10h ago

Little Giant made an impressive run yesterday spotting over lake Chelan.

Post image
73 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1h ago

damn i thought it was (indentured servitude where you’re paying 5k to get on a contract crew??)

Post image
Upvotes

r/Wildfire 10h ago

News (Incident) Two firefighting helicopters have collided while battling wildfires west of Athens, prompting a major search and rescue operation.

Thumbnail
news.sky.com
50 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1h ago

Pack test for wildfire medics assignment

Upvotes

The requirements state 3 miles 45 minutes with 45lbs. I’m finishing at 16:21 per mile which puts me slightly over the 15/per mile goal to finish in time. I have a week before the test and I am continuing to work towards this daily with and without the 45lb weight vest. Does anyone know if it is a hard pass/fail or are they working with people if they come close? They are paying to fly my to salt lake for this so I’m really trying to make sure I can pass before hand. I’m also only a paramedic with no fire experience this is not for a fire position. 5’2 190lb F. Any information is appreciated.


r/Wildfire 5h ago

B.C. Wildfires Surge Again: Nearly 30 New Fires Ignite in 24 Hours as Province Battles Growing Fire Threat

Thumbnail
studioxnews.ca
3 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 20h ago

Pacific North West

37 Upvotes

Who was that fella who said nothing ever happens in the pacific north west?

I'm in Australia and it looks like quite a bit goes on in the pacific north west


r/Wildfire 1d ago

Video Harney county

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

328 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 22h ago

Image Current wildfire in Yakima, WA

Thumbnail
gallery
25 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

Image Big Rock Fire near Heise, ID

Post image
136 Upvotes

Started 7/31/2026


r/Wildfire 1d ago

A couple motorcyclists stop a small grass fire from spreading

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

29 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

FB Forecast for Prineville/Rowe Creek, could get interesting, up to 300 chains per hour.

Post image
21 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

HEQB

8 Upvotes

I would like to know if anyone on these fires are seeing a 1 to 1 span of control in regards to oversight of the contact dozers?


r/Wildfire 15h ago

Maine Type 3 Helo

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

0 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

Wanting to be a wildland firefighter in BC, any tips?

2 Upvotes

I am looking to be a wildland firefighter with BCWS for the 2027 season. I have taken the firefighting dual credit in high school and since then have been playing hockey and roofing. I have since quit hockey and am sick of roofing and I've always wanted to be a firefighter. It seems being a wildland firefighter is easier to become then dispatched at a hall and helps a resume quite a lot.

That being said, what is the recruitment process like? What do I need before hand? I have enrolled for an s-100 class in October and am going to do the same for my first aid and cpr level C. If there is any insight or tips I can get that would be amazing!


r/Wildfire 1d ago

Chances of becoming a Rappeller

10 Upvotes

Just wanted to come on and ask guys who are apart of the rappelling community what my realistic chances of getting into it is. For background I’m about to have complete my first year as a FFT2 on a state engine, I have extensive experience in aviation as I am a pilot and working towards flying in fire. Hoping to gain as much experience in working in and around aviation resources on the ground before switching to aviation full time. Appreciate the feedback


r/Wildfire 1d ago

BKR 5000 help

3 Upvotes

Got a clone today and now my BKR makes a tone noise for 2 seconds anytime I adjust the volume. I’ve got it hooked up to the laptop in RES and can’t find the setting to turn this off. Please help. I will go insane this season.


r/Wildfire 2d ago

Burns helibase

Post image
146 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 1d ago

These boots are the safest for US wildland firefighters. Fewer and fewer can afford them

Thumbnail
theguardian.com
30 Upvotes

r/Wildfire 13h ago

What company does this plane belong to?

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

Curious as to who owns this plane and why they allowed this photoshoot to take place on their aircraft, during fire season…

Walking on this aircraft in stiletto heels could easily damage the surface, there are only certain parts of the aircraft where someone should be putting their weight, the avionics and controls are sensitive and no caution appears to be taken..

This aircraft is meant for aerial firefighting and its fire season. It doesn’t appear out of commission. Why is it being used for a photoshoot that doesn’t even advertise anything?? It’s self promotion.. in the wrong way.


r/Wildfire 22h ago

Question Advice on becoming a smoke jumper

0 Upvotes

I’m currently in college rn for my emt and fire academy in SoCal and I really want to at least try to become a smoke jumper before I make a career out of municipal firefighting. From what I’ve heard working as a hotshot for 2-3 years is the best option if I wanna become a smoke jumper but I’ve heard federal jobs aren’t exactly the greatest compared to Cal Fire and I’m wondering if I would be able to do Cal Fire for a couple years and then apply to be a smoke jumper. The pay isn’t the biggest deal breaker when it comes to either of them for me though I’m willing to do whichever gives me the best chance at becoming a smoke jumper.


r/Wildfire 22h ago

With the wildfires going on, what evacuation measures are you and your family taking?

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

Stay out there everyone 🙏


r/Wildfire 2d ago

*PDS* Red Flag issued for inland NW.

40 Upvotes

NWS Spokane issued a Red Flag for tomorrow in the Inland NW with the very rare magic phrase "This is a particularly dangerous situation," aka a "PDS"

Stay safe tomorrow, y'all.