Become a Wildand Firefighter
Interested in Working for Utah as a Wildland Firefighter
Fighting wildland fire for the state of Utah can be a very rewarding career. The state offers seasonal positions annually as a part of its wildland fire resources. To see open position visit our employment page, and to learn more, check out our frequently asked questions below.
The Red Card (Incident Qualification Card) is your passport to the fireline. To get it, you must complete a series of courses (usually S-130, S-190, L-180, ICS-100, and IS-700) and pass the physical "Pack Test."
Individuals interested in obtaining a Red Card should contact their local fire warden or volunteer fire department and ask how to get a Red Card. A second option is to attend a postsecondary education program or fire school the specifically certifies wildland firefighters such as the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy in Orem, Utah.
Absolutely! Utah is one of the few states that sponsors its own Interagency Hotshot Crews. We might be biased but we believe the Lone Peak and Alta Hotshots are some of the best). To join them, the Pack Test is just the warmup. You’ll be expected to hit higher benchmarks:
1.5-mile run: Under 10:35.
Pull-ups: 4 to 7+ (depending on body weight).
Push-ups: 25+ in a minute.
Sit-ups: 40+ in a minute.
Hotshots are expected to exceed the bare minimum. Applicants should strive to be in the best shape they can.
Potential applicants should start looking in October or November of the previous year. Interviews usually happen in January, and offers are sent out by February. If you wait until the snow melts , you’ve already missed the boat.
When you're on a fire assignment, expect to work 14 to 21 days straight, often for 16 hours a day. You’ll be sleeping in the dirt, eating out of a sack, and working in extreme heat. When you're back at your home station and there are no fires, you'll be doing project work maintaining equipment and fuels work like thinning brush.
Pay: As you earn NWCG certifications and complete task books, your compensation will increase incrementally. In other words, your work experience AND “time in grade” is taken into consideration regarding wage. Also, our organization’s pay scale is formulated based on the state of Utah’s economic performance which is typically robust and ranks near the top of the nation. Though not guaranteed, a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) can be an annual occurrence.
Location of Duty Station: Utah Wildland Fire Operations Center is based in South Salt Lake City. Various housing options, outdoor recreation, and urban entertainment are all conveniently accessible. Lone Peak does not offer subsidized housing or barracks to crewmembers.
Citizenship: You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to work with the State of Utah. We have employed several people who are citizens of other countries.
Per Diem: The State of Utah covers all food and lodging expenses while out on assignment. There are no requirements to front money or wait for reimbursement.
Networking: The Wildland Fire Operations Center is home to two Hotshot crews, two IA crews, a fuels crew, and several Type 3 and 4 Engines. There are opportunities to cross-train between these resources. Stability: No need to worry about government shutdowns, hiring freezes, etc., the state is always open for business.
Generally, yes. Historically, state agencies have offered more competitive base wages for entry-level and mid-level firefighters compared to the federal GS-scale. In Utah, seasonal rates typically start between $19 and $25 per hour, with plenty of overtime (time-and-a-half) once you’re on a fire
You don't have to stay on a handcrew forever. You can move into Engines, transition into Helitack (helicopters) or move into leadership roles like Fire Warden or Fire Management Officer (FMO).
Yes! Utah FFSL heavily utilizes seasonal crews. Many firefighters are college students who work from May to October and make enough in overtime to pay their tuition.
Position Descriptions
Positions Include: Seasonal Firefighter
Job Description:
The seasonal firefighter serves as the most basic yet important member of a wildfire crew at Lone Peak Wildfire Resources. They are assigned to suppress the full range of wildland fires and complete fuel mitigation projects. Individuals will develop a working knowledge of fire suppression and fuels management techniques, practices and terminology.
- Constructing fireline, use of hand firing devices, holding and mop-up
- Forming and managing hose lays
- Working in and around aircraft such as helicopters and air tankers
- Operating various hand tools, small engine equipment, and larger brush disposal equipment or machines
- Following all safety protocol, and implementing basic fire behavior principles
- Completing various fuel mitigation projects
- Driving state-owned vehicles, crew carriers, and/or engines
- Extensive travel and exposure to harsh environmental conditions
- Performing physically demanding work assignments for long durations of time
- Other duties as assigned
Positions Include:
- Hotshot Crew – Lead Crewmember
- Initial Attack Crew – Squad Leader
- Engine – Operator
Job Description:
The employee serves as an agency required mid-level supervisor assigned to complete a full range of wildland fire assignments and fuel mitigation projects. The position will receive specific instructions from supervisor and be required to make independent decisions based their knowledge and experience.
Duties May Consist Of:
- Fulfilling the role of an experienced firefighter, supervising a group of individuals
- Instructing crewmembers in specific tasks and conducting on-the-job training
- Distributing and controlling work assignments among employees and conducting follow-up evaluations
- Conducting complex fire assignments such as line construction, backfiring and burnout, securing the control lines; hose lay and pump set-up
- Supervising chainsaw operations, complex tree falling and chipper operations
- Assuring timely accomplishment and quality assurance of assigned tasks
- Completing reports on work accomplishments, ensuring that the work is carried out safely and handling performance problem and issues at the ground level
- Responsible for assigned vehicle maintenance, inventory, and safe operation.
- Ensuring all information and changing conditions are communicated
- Following all safety protocol, and implementing advanced fire behavior principles.
- Fiscal responsibilities relating to purchase cards and all appropriate paperwork
- Reporting on subordinate work performance through employee evaluations and making recommendations if/when needed
- Ensuring seasonal employees individual performance plan are complete, updated and referenced.
- May also lead or work in tandem with additional fire technician II’s and/or other agency personnel. Also, if the candidate is not qualified to the Tech III level, this Tech II position may be used as an under-fill until the qualifications are met
- Other duties as assigned
Positions Include:
- Fire Warden – Assistant
- Hotshot Crew – Squad Leader
- Initial Attack Crew – Assistant Crew Supervisor
- Engine – Assistant Engine Supervisor
Job Description:
The primary purpose of this position is the supervision and oversight of a highly organized and skilled wildland firefighting resource. Employees in this position are expected to sets goals, objectives, and standards while managing all technical/administrative work, fireline activities, and fuel mitigation based projects.
- Implement safe operational procedures for all fire and project applications
- Maintain all inventories to manage state fixed assets and other equipment
- Responsible for assigned state vehicles
- Track all activity time and ensure reimbursement
- Organize and plan work to be accomplished, set and adjust priorities
- Prepare schedules for off-shift periods
- Assign work to subordinates based on priorities, consideration on the requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees
- Manage human resource and human services needs of assigned personnel
- Recruit, interview, and assist administration in all aspects of the hiring process to fill out crew ranks
- Reward or make recommendations for awards as needed
- Discipline or terminate subordinates as needed
- Develop performance standards and evaluates work of subordinate
- Allow for and produce training opportunities for subordinates
- Complete annual performance management contracts or evaluations for full-time and seasonal employees
- Participates in and complete annual fire readiness review for agency endorsement and official availability notification
- Other duties as assigned
Positions Include:
- Fire Warden I
- Hotshot Crew – Assistant Superintendent
- Initial Attack Crew – Crew Supervisor
- Engine – Captain
- Fire Equipment Operator
Job Description:
This position is required to fulfill agency and interagency requirements for the establishment and delivery of wildland fighting resource services. Management of a complex fire resource program by integrating numerous employees to form a group or groups of independent resources is required. This is accomplished by serving in a key fire management position that requires extensive experience in wildland fire suppression and personnel management. The position will provide oversight and direction for second level supervisors and other subordinates while maintaining fiscal, personnel, and operational control.
Duties May Consist Of:
- Administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised
- Establishing guidelines and performance expectations for subordinate staff members; providing feedback and evaluating employee work performance
- Provides advice, counsel, and/or instruction to staff members by recommending or approving appointments, selections, or reassignments to appropriate positions
- Recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and terminating of permanent and seasonal employees
- Technical or analytical work involving wildland fire suppression, prescribed burning operations, and natural resource-based projects
- Determination of resources required for projects, pre-suppression and suppression activities
- Plan and assign work to be accomplished; set and adjust priorities and prepare schedules
- Ensure proper delivery of all assigned resource services through oversight, guidance, and fiscal accountability
- Implementation of program objectives to complete the annual plan of work and delivery criteria
- Update annually, the statewide annual operating plan to reflect program changes or updates; pre-season preparedness planning, including preparedness inspections of resources
- Involved as an instructor available for local, geographic, and national training sessions
- Ensure all assigned resources and personnel adhere to safety standards during all fire and project activities
- Conduct staff ride visits with assigned resources to make certain resources are operating to national standards
- Involved with budget issues and makes recommendations when necessary
- Track and review all revenue documents to guarantee all activities are reimbursed
- Develop written proposals for programs
- Other duties as assigned
Positions Include:
- Fire Warden I
- Hotshot Crew – Assistant Superintendent
- Initial Attack Crew – Crew Supervisor
- Engine – Captain
- Fire Equipment Operator
Job Description:
This position is required to fulfill agency and interagency requirements for the establishment and delivery of wildland fighting resource services. Management of a complex fire resource program by integrating numerous employees to form a group or groups of independent resources is required. This is accomplished by serving in a key fire management position that requires extensive experience in wildland fire suppression and personnel management. The position will provide oversight and direction for second level supervisors and other subordinates while maintaining fiscal, personnel, and operational control.
Duties May Consist Of:
- Administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised
- Establishing guidelines and performance expectations for subordinate staff members; providing feedback and evaluating employee work performance
- Provides advice, counsel, and/or instruction to staff members by recommending or approving appointments, selections, or reassignments to appropriate positions
- Recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and terminating of permanent and seasonal employees
- Technical or analytical work involving wildland fire suppression, prescribed burning operations, and natural resource-based projects
- Determination of resources required for projects, pre-suppression and suppression activities
- Plan and assign work to be accomplished; set and adjust priorities and prepare schedules
- Ensure proper delivery of all assigned resource services through oversight, guidance, and fiscal accountability
- Implementation of program objectives to complete the annual plan of work and delivery criteria
- Update annually, the statewide annual operating plan to reflect program changes or updates; pre-season preparedness planning, including preparedness inspections of resources
- Involved as an instructor available for local, geographic, and national training sessions
- Ensure all assigned resources and personnel adhere to safety standards during all fire and project activities
- Conduct staff ride visits with assigned resources to make certain resources are operating to national standards
- Involved with budget issues and makes recommendations when necessary
- Track and review all revenue documents to guarantee all activities are reimbursed
- Develop written proposals for programs
- Other duties as assigned