Career Overview
Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.
Also Known As
- Fire Management Officer
- Fire Prevention Technician
- Forest Officer
- Forest Patrolman
Alternate Job Titles
- District Ranger
- Environmental Protection Fire Control Officer
- Fire Management Officer
- Fire Management Technician
- Fire Observer
- Fire Operations Forester
- Fire Prevention Officer
- Fire Prevention Technician
- Fire Range Technician
- Fire Ranger
- Fire Technician
- Fire Tower Keeper
- Fire Warden
- Fire Watcher
- Forest Fire Control Officer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions.
- Conduct wildland firefighting training.
- Estimate sizes and characteristics of fires, and report findings to base camps by radio or telephone.
- Direct crews working on firelines during forest fires.
- Locate forest fires on area maps, using azimuth sighters and known landmarks.
- Extinguish smaller fires with portable extinguishers, shovels, and axes.
- Patrol assigned areas, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Operate drones to monitor and assess fire conditions, track fire progress, and identify safe access points for firefighters.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Flexibility of Closure
- Far Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Independence
- Recognition
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Docker
- Git
- Kubernetes
- Linux
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Azure software
Tools & Equipment
- All terrain vehicles ATV
- Backpack pumps
- Base radios
- Brush hooks
- Claw hammers
- Crew transport buses
- Digital anemometers
- Digital hygrometers
- Emergency first aid kits
- Fire finders
- Forestry axes
- Global positioning system GPS devices
- Laptop computers
- Machetes
- Mobile radios
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $33,590 |
| Median | $52,380 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $100,450 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 2,780
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $92,430
Firefighters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $59,530
Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $78,060
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $109,660
Forest and Conservation Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $54,310
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.