Wildland & AviationSeasonal + Career

Wildland Fire Career Guide

Chart your path from FFT2 rookie to crew supervisor, helitack lead, or incident commander with a focused training sequence, pay intelligence, and deployment insights for every geographic area.

Seasonal base pay

$21.00 / hr

Federal GS-4 wildland firefighter rate (2025)

Type 1 crew bonus

$8,400

Average annual hazard & availability pay

Deployment length

14–21 days

Standard assignment rotation with R&R requirements

Training course count

19 critical modules

From RT-130 refreshers to aviation certifications

Assignment Tracks

Specialize in hand crews, aviation, or WUI engines. Align your task books and physical conditioning to the assignment rhythms you want to pursue.

Hand Crew & Hotshot Operations

Initial attack and extended attack crews constructing fireline, executing burnouts, and holding perimeters on complex incidents.

Maintain arduous pack test readiness and RT-130 refreshers before each season.
Operate chainsaws, hand tools, and firing equipment with LCES discipline.
Deploy on national mobilizations, supporting Type 1 incident management teams.

Helitack & Aviation Support

Deliver rapid response with helicopter short-haul, bucket operations, and sling load support for remote incidents.

Complete S-271 Helibase Crewmember and agency-specific aviation safety training.
Manage cargo manifests, medevac plans, and helispot set-up under high tempo conditions.
Cross-train with rappel, hoist, or fixed-wing air attack operations when available.

Engine & WUI Strike Teams

Staff Type 3-6 engines and task forces for wildland-urban interface structure protection and initial attack.

Execute structure triage, hose lay deployment, and pump-and-roll tactics.
Coordinate with local agencies during evacuations and re-entry planning.
Document defensiable space assessments and pre-incident planning for high-risk subdivisions.

Compensation Signals

Wildland compensation stacks base wages with overtime, hazard pay, and premiums for specialized assignments. Use these markers to negotiate conversions or state agency moves.

Overtime & hazard pay

Expect 300–600 hours of overtime in active seasons. Federal responders receive 25% hazard pay while on incidents; state agencies add separate stipends for red flag days.

Retention & conversion bonuses

Permanent hires may access $5,000 conversion bonuses, student loan repayment, and higher locality pay in high-cost regions.

Dispatch & aviation premiums

Helitack and air attack roles layer 10–15% premiums for flight duties and crew lead responsibilities, increasing pensionable earnings.

Benchmark data

Compare municipal wildland stipends on the salary dashboards and review state forestry pay grids before seasonal hiring windows open.

Training Pipeline

Credential Ladder

Foundational — FFT2
Season 1
- Complete S-130/S-190, L-180, IS-100/700, and pack test (45 lbs, 45 minutes).
- Learn handline construction, firing device operations, and crew cohesion fundamentals.
- Track task book progress with squad leaders for FFT1 upgrade readiness.
Advanced — Squad Boss / FFT1
Seasons 2–3
- Finish S-131, S-133, and S-219 while leading small modules on the fireline.
- Develop burn plan implementation skills and night operations experience.
- Document After Action Reviews and ICS-214 logs demonstrating leadership competencies.
Leadership — Engine Boss / ICT4
Seasons 4+
- Complete S-230, S-231, S-290, and begin S-330 + S-339 for Type 4 incident command.
- Manage resource orders, complexity analysis, and risk assessments as initial attack IC.
- Participate in prescribed fire modules, fuels projects, and community mitigation programs.

Deployment Environments

Understand geographic nuances, interagency coordination, and hazard profiles before volunteering for the next assignment rotation.

Northern Rockies

High-elevation timber, lodgepole pine, and rugged terrain with lightning-driven ignitions.

Type 1 hotshot crews rotate through Glacier, Yellowstone, and surrounding national forests.
Expect alpine weather swings—snow to triple digits—demanding adaptive gear planning.
Collaborate with Canadian agencies on cross-border incidents during peak season.

California & Great Basin

WUI-heavy incidents with complex evacuation plans and power infrastructure threats.

Cal Fire and USFS unified command requires tight coordination on aircraft and dozer assignments.
Leverage pre-incident fire behavior analytics and AI-driven risk layers for situational awareness.
Prepare for extended mop-up in steep canyons and post-fire debris flow mitigation.

Southeast Prescribed Fire Belt

Longleaf pine ecosystems and wildland-urban interface with year-round prescribed fire programs.

Gain high volume ignition experience supporting 1,500+ acre burns with drip torch and aerial ignition.
Support community wildfire protection plans and Ready, Set, Go! outreach events.
Balance hurricane season deployments with local all-hazard responses during shoulder months.

Mitigation & Off-Season Planning

Wildland professionals extend their impact beyond fire season by leading fuels reduction projects, prescribed burns, and community wildfire protection planning. Use off-season months to pursue fire science or forestry coursework, contribute to grant proposals, and certify as a burn boss to expand leadership opportunities.

Engage with state forestry agencies, tribes, and local governments to synchronize mitigation priorities and unlock shared funding for equipment, training, and workforce housing during peak assignments.

Stay Deployment-Ready

Track red flag alerts, mobilization trends, and training windows with curated wildland intelligence from the Fire Department Ranks network.

National Interagency Fire CenterMonitor national preparedness levels, crew rotations, and GACC resource orders.Pack Test Training PlanUse a 6-week conditioning template with altitude adjustments and injury prevention tips.WUI Structure Protection GuideIntegrate with municipal fire departments for structure triage, defensible space, and re-entry.