Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors

Supervise fire fighters who control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.

Job Task

• Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, and interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.
• Direct investigations of suspected arsons in wildfires, working closely with other investigating agencies.
• Direct the loading of fire suppression equipment into aircraft and the parachuting of equipment to crews on the ground.
• Evaluate size, location, and condition of forest fires in order to request and dispatch crews and position equipment so fires can be contained safely and effectively.
• Identify staff training and development needs in order to ensure that appropriate training can be arranged.
• Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically in order to ensure that it is ready for use.
• Maintain knowledge of forest fire laws and fire prevention techniques and tactics.
• Monitor prescribed burns to ensure that they are conducted safely and effectively.
• Observe fires and crews from air to determine fire-fighting force requirements and to note changing conditions that will affect fire-fighting efforts.
• Operate wildland fire engines and hoselays.
• Perform administrative duties such as compiling and maintaining records, completing forms, preparing reports, and composing correspondence.
• Recruit and hire forest fire-fighting personnel.
• Review and evaluate employee performance.
• Schedule employee work assignments, and set work priorities.
• Serve as working leader of an engine-, hand-, helicopter-, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.
• Train workers in such skills as parachute jumping, fire suppression, aerial observation, and radio communication, both in the classroom and on the job.
• Appraise damage caused by fires in order to prepare damage reports.
• Direct and supervise prescribed burn projects, and prepare post-burn reports analyzing burn conditions and results.
• Drive crew carriers in order to transport firefighters to fire sites.
• Educate the public about forest fire prevention by participating in activities such as exhibits and presentations, and by distributing promotional materials.
• Inspect all stations, uniforms, equipment, and recreation areas in order to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
• Monitor fire suppression expenditures in order to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.
• Parachute to major fire locations in order to direct fire containment and suppression activities.
• Recommend equipment modifications or new equipment purchases.
• Regulate open burning by issuing burning permits, inspecting problem sites, issuing citations for violations of laws and ordinances, and educating the public in proper burning practices.
• Lead work crews in the maintenance of structures and access roads in forest areas.
• Investigate special fire issues such as railroad fire problems, right-of-way burning, and slash disposal problems.

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