Wildland Firefighter – Initial Attack Hand Crew

2025 Initial Attack 20-Person Handcrews – Northeast Region

Full-time, Exempt, Non-represented positions

Salary: $3,536.00 – $3,955.00 Monthly

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 in search of hardworking, dedicated, responsible, and reliable team members to join our Northeast Region hand crews as Wildland Firefighters.  As a member of one of our Wildland Fire Hand 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, and 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 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 Handcrew:

• Work in remote areas away from vehicles for long periods.
• Work in extremely rugged terrain.
• Travel for extended periods (for multiple weeks): outside of your home unit to assist on fires within the region, to other regions and/or states for large fires.
• Build strong team cohesion within the 20-person crew, on a day-to-day basis.
• Prepare for fire duty, and maintain assigned equipment and vehicles for 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 on these jobs require considerable physical exertion; working outdoors in all terrain and weather conditions, working 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.

Our 20-person Hand Crews are considered a regional resource and will be expected to travel frequently and for extended periods during fire season. When the crew is not engaged in fires within the region, they can be sent on fire assignments out of region/out of state and are also available for prescribed burning and other projects throughout the region.

Required Qualifications: 

• Must be age 18 and possess a high school diploma or equivalent at the time of hire
• Must provide Certificates of Course Completion for IS-700 and ICS-100 prior to 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 prior to starting work. The “Pack Test” is a work capacity test that measures aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and muscular endurance (45lbsvest, 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 interactions and emergencies, and deal tactfully with the public and interagency partners.