Supervise fire fighters who control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.
Overview
Tasks
Skills
Median Annual Wage: $70,670
Education: Associate's degree (30%); High school diploma or equivalent (19%); Some college, no degree (18%)
Projected Growth: Slower than average (3% to 7%)
Related Job Titles: Fire Captain; Engine Boss; Fire Management Officer; Squad Boss; Crew Boss; Firefighter Type One (FFT1); Assistant Unit Forester; District Fire Management Officer; Forest Fire Specialist Supervisor; Section Forest Fire Warden
Evaluate size, location, and condition of forest fires.
Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.
Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
Train workers in skills such as parachute jumping, fire suppression, aerial observation, or radio communication, in the classroom or on the job.
Request and dispatch crews and position equipment so fires can be contained safely and effectively.
Operate wildland fire engines or hoselays.
Recruit or hire forest firefighting personnel.
Maintain knowledge of forest fire laws and fire prevention techniques and tactics.
Monitor prescribed burns to ensure that they are conducted safely and effectively.
Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities.
Identify staff training and development needs to ensure that appropriate training can be arranged.
Direct and supervise prescribed burn projects and prepare postburn reports, analyzing burn conditions and results.
Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.
Drive crew carriers to transport firefighters to fire sites.
Inspect stations, uniforms, equipment, or recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
Regulate open burning by issuing burning permits, inspecting problem sites, issuing citations for violations of laws and ordinances, or educating the public in proper burning practices.
Perform administrative duties, such as compiling and maintaining records, completing forms, preparing reports, or composing correspondence.
Review and evaluate employee performance.
Recommend equipment modifications or new equipment purchases.
Investigate special fire issues, such as railroad fire problems, right-of-way burning, or slash disposal problems.
Lead work crews in the maintenance of structures or access roads in forest areas.
Educate the public about forest fire prevention by participating in activities such as exhibits or presentations or by distributing promotional materials.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.