Seasonal Wildland Firefighter

2026 SUMMER WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER

Full-time, Exempt, Non-represented positions

Salary:  $3,642.00 – $4,074.00 Monthly

Positions available statewide

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The fire season is quickly approaching! The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is searching for hardworking, dedicated, responsible, and reliable team members to join our Wildland Fire Engine Crews. As a firefighter on one of our engine crews, you will perform pre-suppression and suppression-related activities.
 
Firefighting is hard work and requires long hours and time away from home. You must be willing and capable of performing strenuous outdoor work safely and productively. Working for the DNR as a Wildland Firefighter is extremely rewarding. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other fire professionals, including area fire districts, federal and other state partners, giving you exposure to a variety of learning opportunities, agency operations, and the ability to build cohesive relationships across the state of Washington. You will experience a different level of collaboration within the DNR that will offer a lifetime worth of skills for your future career path. The experience and training gained as a member of an engine crew can form the foundation for a successful career in forestry and other natural resource professions.
 
The duration of these positions is generally 3-6 months, with work beginning as early as May and ending in late September (note: the season has the potential to begin as early as April and run as late as October). Upon hire, basic wildland fire training is provided. This training will usually take place at the agency’s fire academy. The academy provides meals and lodging for all participants and has a duration of 7-14 days.

What to Expect as a DNR Firefighter:

• Prepare for fire duty and maintain assigned equipment and vehicles to ensure fire readiness.
• Safely respond to wildland fires to suppress and prevent them from spreading.
• Perform entry-level wildland fire duties, including hand-line construction, water handling, general suppression, and prevention activities or training.
• When not engaged in wildland fire preparedness and suppression, Wildland Firefighters will perform tasks such as thinning and pruning trees for watersheds, protecting wildlife, and maintaining recreation sites, buildings, grounds, roads, and equipment.
• Many of the duties performed in these jobs require considerable physical exertion, including working outdoors in all terrain and weather conditions, long hours, and extended periods away from home. Duties include, but may not be limited to, the ability to carry up to 60 pounds, run, bend, twist, walk, and/or climb.

Required Qualifications: 

• Must be 18 years of age or older by your available hire date.
• Must provide Certificates of Course Completion for IS-700 and ICS-100 before or on the day of the scheduled Work Capacity Test. If you have previously taken and received credit by DNR for these courses, you are NOT required to retake or resubmit the certificates of completion.
• Must pass the DNR work capacity test or “Pack Test” during the selection process and before starting work. The “Pack Test” is a work capacity test that measures aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance (45lbs vest, 3 miles within 45 minutes).
• Firefighters require the competencies related to being able to effectively communicate with supervisors and work with and lead subordinates in wildland fire organizations.
• Ability to act promptly, use good judgment in day-to-day activities and emergencies, and deal tactfully with the public and interagency partners.

Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment: 

• Duties involve field work in hazardous environments on fires, requiring physical performance calling for above-average endurance and superior conditioning. Ability to carry up to 60 lbs., run, bend, twist, walk, and/or climb while working outdoors in all terrain and weather conditions.
• A typical workday is an 8-hour day, five days a week. Positions require response during off-duty hours for emergency fire suppression needs. This may include working long, irregular hours on workdays, weekends, day or night when performing suppression duties.
• Requires a large majority of time in the field, traveling between fire assignments and fire training. The position requires frequent overnight travel and extended work assignments, generally 14 days in length, with infrequent travel of 21 days.
• Field duties require the use of hand tools, power tools, GPS, topographic maps, a compass, and an iPad. Must be able to carry appropriate wildland fire tools on field assignments, as needed, to conduct assigned tasks. Day-to-day responsibilities require the ability to safely operate pickup trucks and Type 5 Wildland Fire Engines.
• Successful certification at the minimum level of Firefighter Type 2 is required after the annual work capacity test and firefighter courses are completed for the fire year.