Events and News

The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) has released its 2019 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs):

The Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) announcement FA-FOA0019-001 has one task statement. Proposals must address one or more of the following topic areas:

• Fuels management and fire behavior
• Emissions and air quality
• Fire effects and post-fire recovery
• Relative impacts of prescribed fire versus wildfire
• Human dimensions of fire

The primary announcement FA-FOA0019-002 has two task statements:

1. Effectiveness of fuel breaks and fuel break systems
2. Reducing damages and losses to valued resources from wildfire

The Regional Fire Science Exchange announcement FA-FOA0019-003 has one task statement focused on leading and executing a regional fire science exchange in the following two regions:

1. Great Plains
2. Southern Rockies

Position Overview: Serves as the agency’s lead expert on prescribed fire – use, application and implementation. The primary purpose of the position will be to provide leadership in the use and applicability of prescribed fire in Washington, develop a prescribed fire program within the agency and develop a prescribed burn certification program for those who practice prescribed burning in the State of Washington (see RCW 76.04.183). This position serves as a mid-level manager providing oversight and program advocacy for the appropriate use of prescribed fire as well as long-term growth and viability of the program.

The position will provide support for the successful operational use of prescribed fire in helping to achieve the goals of the agency’s 20-year Forest Health Strategic Plan for Eastern Washington (https://www.dnr.wa.gov/ForestHealthPlan). Additionally, the position will be expected to collaborate with other prescribed fire experts within the region and regularly report on the use, application, implementation and effects of prescribed fire in Washington with an emphasis in forested ecosystems.

Required Education & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in fire science, fire ecology, forestry, other applicable field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience as a wildland firefighter with experience in PNW or similar fuel types and use of prescribed fire.

Required Qualifications:
• Knowledge of forest & fire ecology in the PNW or similar ecosystems and successful management strategies to address those issues.
• Demonstrated successful experience with fuels & vegetation management, fire management, and prescribed fire plans.
• Proven skills in the development and/or implementation of a similar program at the local, state or federal level.
• Prescribed fire and fuels management - experience in activities such as:
    o Professional forest or range inventory methods and procedures (e.g., Brown's planar intercept for dead and down fuels; fuel loading assessments)
    o Analysis of fuel loadings and determination of appropriate fuel treatment methods
    o Evaluation of prescribed burn plans or fire management plans
    o Conducting surveys before and after prescribed fires to determine attainment of resource objectives
• One year of experience in successfully administering contracts, interagency agreements, grants, or other partnership agreements.

Preferred Education/Certification:
• Currently qualified as NWCG RXB2 or higher OR RXM2 or higher.

Working Conditions & Special Position Requirements:
• Travel is required including overnight travel – lodging/meals covered.
• Must have valid Washington driver’s license; this position requires driving as an essential function. Employees who drive for state business, whether in a state or privately owned vehicle, are required to possess a valid driver’s license as defined in agency policy
• Use/application of prescribed fire which will require ability to navigate on foot varying & diverse terrain; ability to work in smoke filled environment.

As a member of the Prescribed Fire Team within the Wildlife Program, the employee participates in providing statewide fire management implementation services on wildlife areas including fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat restoration and maintenance using prescribed (Rx) fire. Additionally this position is a member of a Prescribed (Rx) Fire Burn Team to help implement projects for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems with an initial focus in Eastern Washington but may include any region in Washington State. The employee supports/contributes to the mission of WDFW of preserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats by restoring fire as a disturbance agent at the appropriate frequency to fire dependent ecosystems/habitats sustaining and perpetuating the plants and animals dependent thereon.

Job Knowledge: Fire ecology; fire effects and by-products and their ecosystem actions; fire weather; fuel types; fuel conditions; fuel assessment; smoke management; NWCG standards; knowledge of tools and techniques used to prepare for and implement Rx burns.

Incumbent will be a member of the Vandenberg Wildland Support Module for the U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. The Wildland Support Module is responsible for implementing prescribed burns and responding to wildfires on Air Force property throughout the area of responsibility and the U.S.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Team Lead and to provide operational oversight and planning of wild land fire suppression/non-suppression activities and specialized expertise. The incumbent is also responsible for preparedness, prevention, prescribed burning, monitoring, hazardous fuel reduction within assigned area of responsibility. The incumbent also assists in writing and executing wildland fire management plans, prescribed burn plans, and preparedness plans.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 03/04/2019

Incumbent will be a member of a Wildland Fire Support Module for the U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The Wildland Fire Support Module is responsible for executing prescribed fire projects, mechanical fuel treatments, and assisting with wildfire suppression on numerous Air Force installations within the area of responsibility.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 03/04/2019

As a member of the Prescribed Fire Team within the Wildlife Program, the employee participates in providing statewide fire management implementation services on wildlife areas including fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat restoration and maintenance using prescribed (Rx) fire. Additionally this position is a member of a Prescribed (Rx) Fire Burn Team to help implement projects for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems with an initial focus in Eastern Washington but may include any region in Washington State. The employee supports/contributes to the mission of WDFW of preserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats by restoring fire as a disturbance agent at the appropriate frequency to fire dependent ecosystems/habitats sustaining and perpetuating the plants and animals dependent thereon.

Job Knowledge: Fire ecology; fire effects and by-products and their ecosystem actions; fire weather; fuel types; fuel conditions; fuel assessment; smoke management; NWCG standards; knowledge of tools and techniques used to prepare for and implement Rx burns.

The NASF and the CPFC is pleased to announce the release of the  2018 National Prescribed Fire Use Survey. This report is the third of its kind since 2012 and is unique among prescribed fire surveys because it is a national and regional assessment of state-level programs, prescribed fire use, impediments to burning, and, for the first time, degree of liability protection provided by state law.

This position supports/contributes to Departments mission and goals of preserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats by implementing sound fire practices and restoring fire as a disturbance agent at the appropriate frequency to fire dependent ecosystems/habitats sustaining and perpetuating the plants and animals dependent thereon.

Under the supervision of the Rx Fire Program Manager, this position, On Call RXB2, will provide leadership, supervision, and mentoring within the prescribed (Rx) fire program to support the Department's mission and goals within the constraints of policy, applicable legal requirements, and applicable collective bargaining agreements to help implement projects for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems. The primary focus will be in Eastern Washington but may include any region in Washington State, which includes more than 200,000 acres of forest including numerous fire dependent, e.g., dry forest and fire maintained prairies and steppe.

General duties include coordinating with the Rx Fire Program Manager, Other Fire Managers, Wildlife Area Managers, Wildlife Biologists and Foresters to implement burns for restoration and maintenance of fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat. Conducting burn unit layout, fuels inventory, assisting with writing and technical review of burn plans, with a primary focus of supervising and training other Rx fire members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Southern Maine Land Steward/Burn Crew Leader helps with all aspects of the Maine Chapter's southern Maine stewardship program and assists with work at Southern Maine preserves. Field work includes prescribed-fire preparation and implementation, trail construction and maintenance, equipment operation (chain saw, brush saw, UTV, ATV, tractor) and maintenance, boundary maintenance, biological monitoring, leading nature walks, interacting with preserve visitors and enforcing preserve policies. The Land Steward may be required to work occasional weekends and will be required to work outdoors in demanding conditions including poor weather. 

This is a full-time, 26 week, temporary position that begins in April 2019 and ends in October 2019 (flexible).  The position is based in the Conservancy’s Wells, Maine office with some travel to New Hampshire.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 8, 2019.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting to fill two (2) 10 month full time, career seasonal Natural Resource Specialist 1 positions located in the Lands Division of the Wildlife Program. The duty stations are in the Okanogan, Washington and Yakima, Washington. The employment period mid-February through mid-December, annually.

As the Prescribed Fire Team Leader within the Wildlife Program this position assists in providing statewide fire management implementation services on wildlife areas including fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat restoration and maintenance using prescribed (Rx) fire. Additionally this position will lead a prescribed (Rx) burn team to help implement projects for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems with an initial focus in Eastern Washington but may include any region in Washington State. This position supports/contributes to the mission of WDFW of preserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats by restoring fire as a disturbance agent at the appropriate frequency to fire dependent ecosystems/habitats sustaining and perpetuating the plants and animals dependent thereon.

Under the supervision of the  Rx Fire Unit Manager, this position (Prescribed Fire Team Leader) supports the Department's mission and goals by implementing sound fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat restoration and maintenance projects within the constraints of policy, applicable legal requirements, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

This position assists the Rx Fire Unit Manager in implementing plans to restore and maintain fire dependent fish and wildlife on wildlife areas primarily in Eastern Washington but may include any region statewide which include more 200,000 acres of forest including numerous fire dependent, e.g., dry forest and fire maintained prairies and steppe.

General duties include:  Coordinating with the Rx Fire Unit Manager, Wildlife Area Managers, Wildlife Biologists and Foresters to implement plans for restoration and maintenance of fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat; Conducting burn unit layout, fuels inventory, assisting with writing burn plans, and implementing restoration projects with a primary focus of supervising and training the Prescribed Burn Team.

Duties:

Job knowledge (to perform the essential activities of this position, the employee must know or understand the following): Fire ecology; fire effects and by-products and their ecosystem actions; fire weather; fuel types; fuel conditions; fuels assessment; smoke management; NWCG standards; knowledge of tools and techniques used to prepare for and implement Rx burns; Working knowledge of management, supervision and training of fire line hand crews and/or prescribed fire hand crews.

Duty: Supervision
Tasks include:

Develop, maintain and lead a fully integrated and functionally coordinated team of professional members, 1- Crew Supervisor 2 and up to 6- Natural Resource Worker 2 levels to accomplish overall ecological fire management including prescribed fire implementation, mop-up and patrol, tree thinning operations and monitoring to restore and maintain ecological function of natural systems for the benefit of wildlife and fisheries habitat. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short term priorities. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities. Develops performance standards and evaluates work performance of subordinates. Provide for employee and public safety while implementing assigned projects including prescribed burning. Design training curriculum to develop and nurture skills of subordinates.

Duty: Equipment Operation and Maintenance
Tasks include:

Ability to operate various types of equipment such as 4-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (UTV & ATV), chainsaws and hand tools in a safe and efficient manner. Ability to provide basic equipment maintenance such as trouble shooting pumps, engine operations and maintenance, tool maintenance and maintain them in a fire ready condition. Ability to organize and track inventories of fire line equipment so there is accountability of equipment and costs.

Duty: Monitoring
Tasks include:

Ability to learn or develop basic pre- and post-burn monitoring such as fuels inventories and vegetation surveys, photo points this data is required for creating burn plans and monitoring prescribed burn goals and objectives.

Duty: Other duties as assigned
Tasks include:

Participate in forest thinning operations to reduce stand densities prior to implementing prescribed fires. Ability to conduct miscellaneous wildlife area duties as assigned during non-fire periods such as visitor signage replacement, repair construction, assisting planting of food plots, etc.