The Washington state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking to hire for nearly 60 year-round fire positions to expand its wildfire response capacity throughout the state.
During the offseason, positions will work on forest health issues by advancing the goals set out in the DNR’s 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan.
“When fires break out across our landscapes, it is imperative that we have the firefighters needed to protect our neighbors, communities, and forests,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “That is why I have made expanding our wildfire fighting force a top priority. In the offseason, these positions will do the vital work of restoring forest health — returning natural wildfire resistance — which is essential to reducing fire risk in the future.”
While DNR has historically hired firefighters on a seasonal basis during the spring and summer months, with a changing climate causing hotter and drier conditions year-round the agency is expanding its fire personnel to respond earlier and later in the season, according to a news release.
Many of the firefighter positions are funded by HB 1168, which passed unanimously through the state Legislature last year after being supported by Franz. The bill invested in wildfire response, forest health and community resilience.
The DNR is currently looking to hire two fire operations specialists, eight assistant fire management officers, five hand crew superintendents, four hand crew foremen, 25 hand crew bosses, 12 initial attack heavy equipment operators and five prevention technicians.
Interested applicants can go to www.dnr.wa.gov/jobs to search for firefighting job descriptions.
