Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Forestry Aid (Fire Suppression)

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is temporary and has a Not-to-Exceed date. However, an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or funds.

The position is located on a fire crew as a crewmember within the fire management organization.  

The purpose of the position is wildland fire suppression/management/control, as a firefighter on an engine, hotshot, helitack or hand crew. Other wildland fire related duties might involve fire prevention, patrol, detection, or prescribed burning. The incumbent will also be involved with the maintenance and repair of firefighting tools equipment and facilities, and will receive firefighting training.

This vacancy announcement is for one or more locations throughout Region 5 on the Klamath National Forest. The number and location of positions to be filled will be dependent upon individual unit needs.

For additional information about the duties of the position, please contact, Kip Van de Water, PH: 530-598-9354, eMail: kvandewater@fs.fed.us OR Katherine Lawson, PH: 971-207-5008, eMail: kelawson@fs.fed.us

TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT: Considerable travel may be required. Some positions involve work that requires travel away from the official duty location to remote worksites within commuting distance (49 miles).

Positions will be filled as a temporary appointment up to 6 months.

Hourly wage as shown is Rest of U.S. (RUS). Specific wage rate will vary by location and may be higher or lower than the amount shown on the vacancy announcement. http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career- Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/28/2017 to 05/05/2017
Salary
$12.53 to - $12.53 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 03
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Callahan, CA
Cecilville, CA
Fort Jones, CA
Happy Camp, CA
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Per Fire Assignments
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Promotion potential
03
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Announcement number
17-TEMPF-S5-0462-3FAFSUP-DT
Control number
468711100

This job is open to

Help

Duties

Help

Performs assignments to develop knowledge of fuels management and fire suppression techniques and practices such as fireline construction, use of pumps and engines, hose lays, foam and retardant, working around aircraft, safety rules, and fire and fuels terminology.

Searches out and extinguishes burning materials by moving dirt, applying water by hose or backpack pump, etc.

Moves dirt, chops brush, or fells small trees to build fireline using various hand tools such as axe, shovel, Pulaski, McLeod and power saws to control spreading wildland fire and to prepare lines prior to prescribed burning. Chops, carries and piles logging slash.

Patrols the fireline to locate and extinguish sparks, flareups, and hot spot fires that may threaten developed firelines.

Cleans, reconditions and stores fire tools and equipment.

May be assigned to other resource management activities such as recreation, timber, or reforestation when not performing fire suppression or fuels management duties.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Position requires a Work Capacity Test (WCT).
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • Satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

ARDUOUS FIRE POSITIONS: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be employed in a position performing hazardous duties. An initial pre-employment medical examination is required for arduous fire positions. Failure to meet any of the required medical qualifications will be considered disqualifying for employment.

WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a "condition of employment." The Arduous fitness (Pack) test requires completing a three (3) mile hike within forty-five (45) minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and begin training immediately if applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days advanced notice for testing requirements.

Qualifications

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible for this position. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the appropriate experience requirements.

GS-03: (6) Six months general experience. 

General experience is defined as: Performed farm/ranch labor, such as feeding and tending livestock or general maintenance of farm/ranch facilities; Worked in a greenhouse or nursery moving, watering, and tending plants and performing other general labor tasks; Fed and watered animals, such as in a laboratory, pet store, or zoo; Any work experience, paid or unpaid. Unpaid experience, for example, may be regular volunteer work, such as at a park, community sports league facilities, etc.-OR

Successful completion of 1 year of study above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in a combination of courses such as range management or conservation, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, engineering, biology, mathematics, or other natural or physical sciences. -OR

Completion of an intensive, specialized course of study of less than 1 year may meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Courses of this type normally require completion of up to 40 hours per week of instruction rather than the usual 20 hours per week, and are usually of at least 3 months duration. Such courses may have been obtained through a variety of programs such as those offered by business or technical schools, and through military training programs. To be creditable, such a course must have been designed specifically as career preparation for the work of the position being filled, and must have provided the applicant with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work.-OR

A combination of education and experience listed above.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements on the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Additional information

  • BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.
  • Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP or ICTAP eligibility, provide proof of eligibility. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agencys definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is on OPMs Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
  • Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.
  • Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
  • If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system. Federal law requires the use of E-VERIFY to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Under this system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
  • Government housing may be available.
  • If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay.
  • This position is not eligible for telework.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply Online" button to the right.


To view the application form, visit: https://fs.usda.ntis.gov/cp/?event=jobs.previewApplication&jobid=08C821A2-EAB4-4451-9EA8-A76201078B7E

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.