Another season rolls
around and I find myself once again standing in front of a group of young,
energetic faces, teaching the finer points of staying alive on the scene
of a wildfire. I always wonder whether we should also be teaching
them about the other things that they should know about being a successful
wildland firefighter, like what they need to do to make a career of it?
I for one, would like to see more people retained in the profession.
I feel that my training would be more cost-effective if it was being aimed
at a few less doctors and few more career wildland firefighters.
So just how does one go about becoming a career wildland firefighter?
At first I didn't plan on becoming a career wildland firefighter, I
wanted to be a wildlife biologist. When I had arrived on the Entiat Ranger
District of the Wenatchee National Forest in the summer of 1978,
I had already served a season as a firefighter for the California Division
of Forestry. Like many others I figured that it would be a good way to
make some money for school. But a funny thing happened on the way
to becoming a biologist- I discovered that wildland firefighting had gotten
into my blood- like some kind of disease. Where else could one travel
to exotic places like Ardenvoir, Washington and get paid for chasing lightning
strikes?
Soon I found myself singing unsavory songs on the Bushmen-also known as the Wenatchee Interregional Hotshot Crew. The next season I was flying around in helicopters on the Los Padres. Season after season passed-engine crews, fuels crews, prevention work-I spent many a hot afternoon roasting in that Smokey the Bear suit!
As the years passed I began to focus upon making this disease
I had contracted my life's work. So I began to focus upon the system
that deals out the "permanent" appointments. The WAE 13/13 appointment-
that was the one for me. The only problem during the 1980's was that
few places were dealing out WAE 13/13 appointments. The fact was that I
had picked one hell of a decade to attempt to land a much coveted WAE 13/13
appointment. Not only did I fail the "diversity" test, but the Dept.
of Agriculture failed to compete with the Defense Department when it came
to National Priorities.
The answer to my problem was simple- join the Army. Well
not exactly, I actually received my first appointment as a structural firefighter
with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the fall of 1986. It seemed
that to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the federal agency that
rates and refers applicants to the agencies that are hiring, my experience
with pumps and fire apparatus served to rate me as one of the best qualified
for the position of structural firefighter. The job turned out to
be that of a security guard more than a firefighter. After all- how
many fires occur on a hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River?
The answer was not too many. This must have been the reason the person
who hired me also informed me at the time that the position was going to
be eliminated within a year. To this day I still wonder why they
filled that position if they were just going to eliminate it one year later?
It seemed that the fickle winds of fate had laid my path straight,
as my career as a structural firefighter with the Army Corps of Engineers
had come to an abrupt end. I resigned my appointment in the spring
of 1987- just in time for the start of the burning season back on the Entiat
Ranger District. I walked away from my first permanent position,
with my federal "status" firmly in my grasp. To a seasonal-temporary
firefighter- status is everything. It makes one a real person in
the world of federal employment. It's not a permanent position, but
it allows one to compete for more jobs than a mere citizen.
By the summer of 1988 I had applied for and had been reinstated
as a fire engine foreman on my old district. My status had made it
much easier for my employer to "reach me" on the roster during the hiring
process. I had finally achieved my much coveted WAE 13/13 Appointment.
By the next year I had also become a father for the first time; after all-there
is more to life than chasing lightning. And like all the others who
came before me, my thoughts soon turned to the need to survive on more
than just six month's worth of employment. More work months is the
next step in a career which also encompasses the natural progression of
one's life and the events which that represents.
As I look back, I wish that someone had taught me the finer points
of getting a permanent appointment with one of the federal land management
agencies. It took nine seasons as a temporary to figure that one
out .
So what did I learn in the twenty years since I started fighting wildland
fires?
I learned that one of the most important ingredients in a successful
wildland firefighting career is passion. The passion one gets from
doing something that they deeply believe in and are committed to. If you
don't believe in what you're doing, it's time to find a new career.
Life is simply too short to "fake it." That passion is often all
one has to help them persevere through some otherwise hopeless moments
in their struggle to land a permanent position.
I learned that it's easier to get a job if you happen to live in a rural area close to the place where you want to work. I cannot explain this, except that a "local" is often viewed as less "foreign," and is therefore more suitable for employment in the area.
Know the employment cycle of the wildland firefighting profession; winter and early spring is when most jobs are advertised. But there are always exceptions, like early June when the various agencies count the "no-shows" on their districts.
Know the agencies that you would like to work for, their missions and organizations. Learn about the "Big Picture" issues that each agency is dealing with at any given time. Remember a firm handshake and a smile never hurt anyone's career; go out and meet the fire management officers in the places where you want to work. Be honest and straightforward, let them know that you would like to work for them, and what it is that you can offer their organization.
Learn the terminology and the tactics of the Federal personnel management
system.
You can't play the game if you don't know the rules.
Remember that districts still have priorities with regard to resource
and personnel management. Fire may or may not be one of them.
So don't expect to get on in a place that has not identified a need for
your services, regardless of how long you may have worked there.
There is also the possibility that no one really likes you at your present
workplace, if not find a district that does.
Stay focused, eat right and stay in good physical condition.
Stay in contact with others in the field of fire management, keep your ears pealed on the grapevine of information. Study the lists of personnel actions that can be found in the employees' newsletters of the agencies that you are interested in working for. If a person is retiring perhaps that position will be filled at some point in the near future. Remember that these employees' newsletters are often slow to be published.
Become computer literate and purchase a computer.
Your application for employment is your test for employment. Remember
it's an open book test, and it's up to you to do your best to sell yourself.
You can't sell yourself if you don't tell them why you should be hired.
A long application is often better than a short one. Better yet-why
not just send two applications, one long and one summary of your experience,
awards, talents and education. Always address the evaluation criteria
specified in the job announcement.
Recognize that a position is sometimes "wired" for someone before it
is even advertised. Sometimes the best type of hiring is the old-fashioned
type- hire a hard, competent worker who knows the area and deserves the
job. Some signs of being wired include: a relatively short open period,
a restricted geographic area (local commuting area only), a restricted
area of consideration (status only and agency specific), and highly specialized
evaluation criteria (knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position).
In spite of these signs, I would encourage one to apply for the position
anyway.
Gain as much experience and training as possible. Gain aviation and fuels management experience. Polish your speaking and writing skills. Volunteer your time to the agency of your choice during the winter months. Get involved in your community.
Always be nice to the people in payroll and personnel.
In the final analysis, life is a gamble and so is a career in wildland fire management. It is an honorable profession in a world that often falls short of the dignity that it deserves. It takes a great deal of patience and hard work to make a career in wildland fire management. Many who dream of such a way of life are often not willing to devote the time and energy that is necessary to endure its negative aspects. While others may look at my position and question my sanity, I personally am very happy with my career and the choices that I made along the way. It is my hope that others may use this information to better themselves, I know that I would have appreciated a little more education when I first started learning what it took to be a career wildland firefighter.