What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2025 SE Initial Attack 20 Person Handcrews position at State of Washington?
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 Handcrews here in the Southeast Region. As a member of one of our Wildland Fire Handcrews, 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 various learning opportunities, agency operations, and the ability to build cohesive relationships across Washington State. You will experience a different level of collaboration within the DNR, offering 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.
- 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 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 (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 activities and emergencies, and deal tactfully with the public and interagency partners.
- DNR Core Competencies:
- Personal Accountability
- Value Others
- Compassionate Communication
- Inspire Others
- Commitment to Excellence
- 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 work day is an 8-hour day, five days a week. Positions require response during off-duty hours for emergency fire suppression needs. Positions required to work 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.
- A valid unrestricted driver’s license and have two years of driving experience.
- NWCG Qualification of Firefighter Type 1.
- To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above).
- Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
- Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include it with your resume.
Work Locations:
CHELAN - The Chelan Fire Unit is located in East Wenatchee, WA. The response area covers both private and Federal lands within Chelan County and western sections of Douglas County. The Chelan Fire Unit prides itself on being a High-Reliability Organization with a strong emphasis on our interagency cooperation with County and Federal Firefighters. Handcrew members will help staff a 20-person Type 2 Initial Attack Crew. The majority of our fire responses include our partner agencies, the local Fire Districts, the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. On average the Chelan Fire Unit will respond to roughly 80 incidents per year. This Chelan Unit is made up of 7 wildland fire engines, the 20-person handcrew, and an initial attack dozer. Crew housing is not available.
CHELAN DUTY STATION ADDRESS:
5552 Industry Ln East Wenatchee, WA 98802
HIRING MANAGERS:
Bryan Lyle, Crew 411 Superintendent, bryan.lyle@dnr.wa.gov/509.856.5500
Joseph Stuart, Crew 411 Foreman, joseph.stuart@dnr.wa.gov/509.856.5498
CLE ELUM - The Kittitas Unit works out of Cle Elum work centers. This unit falls within the boundary of Kittitas County, which has a total area of 2,333 square miles. The Kittitas Unit consists of 6 Type-5 fire engine modules; 1 permanent engine lead, 5 seasonal engine leads, 18 seasonal firefighters, and a 20-person handcrew stationed in Cle Elum. Our unit holds our interagency cooperation in high regard by embracing the all hands all lands vision, through this theme we can protect state and private timber lands, along with the citizens of Washington State. On average, we respond to roughly 60 incidents a year. Crew housing is not available on-site, but rental options are available. http://www.kittitascountychamber.com/
CLE ELUM DUTY STATION ADDRESS:
2281 Airport Rd Cle Elum, WA 98922
HIRING MANAGER:
Chase Brewer, Crew 421 Specialist, chase.brewer@dnr.wa.gov /509.856.5504
AHTANUM - At our Ahtanum Guard Station facility, located 29 miles west of Yakima, DNR hosts a 20-person Type-2 initial attack handcrew that can be dispatched statewide throughout the wildfire season. Outdoor recreational opportunities for the public and employees are vast throughout the state forest. This crew is maintained at our Ahtanum Guard Station Facility located 29 miles west of Yakima, WA. Remotely located in the Ahtanum State Forest, the Ahtanum Guard Station is a work center for recreation, wildfire, and other DNR staff and provides specifically for the handcrew employees, and bunkhouse-style living quarters. At this location, shared crew housing is provided.
AHTANUM HANDCREW DUTY STATION ADDRESS:
9571 North Fork Rd Yakima WA, 98903
HIRING MANAGERS:
Jeff Delarosa, Superintendent, Jeff.Delarosa@dnr.wa.gov/509-899-0837
KLICKITAT IA - Crew 441 - The Klickitat Unit in DNR’s Southeast Region hosts a 20-person Type 2 Initial Attack Hand Crew out of the new Dallesport Work Center in Dallesport, WA. Centrally located in Klickitat County, the crew can rapidly respond to wildfires throughout the unit and easily assist neighboring cooperating partners, such as the 20 rural and municipal departments, the United States Forest Service, the Yakama Nation, the Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies. Our location in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area provides ample outdoor recreational activities and is visually breathtaking. The crew consists of 6 permanent overhead staff and 14 seasonal firefighters. Our crew’s culture is one of inclusivity, professionalism, and high reliability in fire response. Outside our initial attack responsibilities, we respond to regional and national wildfires as an effective firefighting resource. Crew housing is not available on-site at our Dallesport Work Center.
DALLESPORT DUTY STATION ADDRESS:
325 6th Avenue Dallesport, WA 98617
HIRING MANAGERS:
Joseph Santiago, Foreman, joseph.santiago@dnr.wa.gov/509-856-5565
For more specific information about DNR Uplands Regions and how to contact those regions, please visit http://www.dnr.wa.gov/about/dnr-regions-and-districts
About the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Our mission is to manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs economically and socially for current and future generations. At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity, and inclusion. With nearly 1,500 employees in locations throughout Washington, we manage and protect more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural, and aquatic lands.
Additional Information:
DNR does not use the E-Verify system. For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
Veterans wishing to claim Veteran’s preference please attach a copy of your DD-214, NGB-22, or other verification of military service. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching it. We thank you and are grateful for your service!
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 522-2500 or email DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov.
Salary : $3,536 - $3,955
