Wildland Firefighting Career

Posted on 2 September, 2011

Wildland Firefighting Career

58

Becoming a wildland firefighter

A wildland firefighting career is a rewarding, exciting profession where you will be challenged constantly in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

You have to choose: is this the right choice for you?

Many folks have decided to make it a seasonal career while pursuing education or another job, such as teaching. Wildland firefighting fits neatly into the summer months, but certainly(and more frequently) can extend into the spring and fall months, depending on where you decide you'd like to work. Wherever you decide or for how long you decide to work, know this: your job will consist of lots of time away from your family and you should prepare yourself mentally for that well ahead of time. it's crucial that those you leave behind are supportive and understanding of your chosen profession.

Next, are you fit enough? Wildland firefighting takes place in the wildlands, and as such, physical fitness can't be underestimated for your enjoyment of your job and personal safety. Fitness should already be part of your normal routine and will be stressed if hired into the firefighting workforce. So do engage in physical activity that includes cardiovascular and weight training.

Be patient! The hiring process can be convoluted and long. When applying to the federal workforce(by far the largest wildland firefighting employer), become familiar with usajobs and avue digital services. The former is where job announcements are posted, the latter is where you electronically apply. Also, as with any career, become familiar with who and what you are applying to work for.

You won't get rich! Starting pay for a new seasonal employee is roughly ten bucks an hour. You can expect to work from May to about Halloween...you can also expect 40 hour weeks to be the exception rather than the rule...shifts run anywhere from a standard 8 hour day to 24 hours plus..you can expect anywhere from 200-500 hours of overtime...sometimes more sometimes less

View more hot articles...