Some people dream of becoming a forest firefighter. Attacking such a wild beast can be adventurous, dangerous and exciting all at the same time. Pursuing this dream means spending summers struggling with blazes from the air and on the ground, climbing in and out of forestry trucks and being covered in black soot. Since this job is the career choice for daring people, it is important to know that any person who chooses this job as their profession must be physically fit to be able to perform the tasks demanded of this job.

Overview

A forest firefighter must be both physically and mentally fit in order to perform the job. There are various levels of firefighters in both the state and regional areas. All levels require adequate training for putting out fires and for personal safety. Some potential workers may need to undergo instruction for truck driving if they will be driving trucks and using other types of equipment. There are several training levels made up of both practical and academic courses. Although this job choice is often popular during the summer when most fires occur, it is possible to become either a full-time or seasonal forest firefighter.

Training and Tests

Becoming a qualified forestry firefighter requires taking at least four of the basic courses structured by federal agencies according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The basic standardized courses include the following:

• 1. I-100 Incident Command System Orientation
• 2. S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Training
• 3. S-130 Firefighting Training
• 4. FI-110 Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders.

These basic courses should be taken at the same time. Upon completion of this curriculum, tests known as a "pack test" must be taken and passed in order to be qualified by the standards of most state agencies.

A ‘pack test’ is layman’s terminology for a work capacity test. It is a physical examination given by the United States Forestry Service to individuals who want to become forest firefighters. This kind of test is given to measure an individual’s ability to respond to long periods of physically-demanding activities. Because of the required strenuous physical effort of this test, applicants must complete a health screening questionnaire and then must be cleared by a human resource officer to be qualified for the examination. The three levels of a ‘pack test’ include the following:

• Arduous Pack Test - To pass this, the trainee must carry a 45-pound backpack and complete a three-mile hike in less than 45 minutes.

• Moderate Field Test - With a 25-pound backpack, the trainee must walk two miles in less than 30 minutes to pass.

• Light Walk Test - As the name suggests, to pass this the trainee must walk one mile in less than 16 minutes without a backpack.

There is wide range of other courses and training programs related to battling blazes in the forest which will help someone who is interested secure a full-time position in this field. There is also other specialized instruction offered to those pursuing careers in this challenging and demanding field by inter-agency departments, in aviation, and other areas by highly competitive training schools.

Forest Firefighting Employment

A job opportunity list is advertised on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website that anyone can visit and examine. If a position on the list seems interesting, an application can be submitted through the contact information indicated on the OPM site or an application can be made through any state employment office.

Generally, state employment offices start accepting applications during February but usually will receive notifications about available positions in a certain area from the Forestry Service in the months of March or April. Though notification of these positions varies from one area to another, it is best to contact the nearest local Forestry Service office to inquire about any openings in the area.

Lastly, accepting a demanding seasonal or permanent job such as this requires strength and determination, so anyone who is interested in this type of position must be both physically and mentally fit to be ready for any type of outdoor challenges that may be encountered. If an occupation in this field has been a lifelong dream, and all of the qualifications have been met, now is the time to head to the nearest local Forestry Service to find a career in this demanding and challenging industry.