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Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor

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What is a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor?

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

Daily Life Of a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor

  • Recruit or hire forest firefighting personnel.
  • Educate the public about forest fire prevention by participating in activities such as exhibits or presentations or by distributing promotional materials.
  • Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities.
  • Review and evaluate employee performance.
  • Observe fires or crews from air to determine firefighting force requirements or to note changing conditions that will affect firefighting efforts.
  • Direct investigations of suspected arson in wildfires, working closely with other investigating agencies.

What a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors say are important on the job.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Other Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor Job Titles

  • Fire Coordinator
  • Burn Crew Member
  • Fire Supervisor
  • Smoke Jumper Supervisor
  • Assistant Unit Forester

What Kind of Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor Job Opportunities Are There?

There were about 59,100 jobs for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,200 new jobs for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor by 2026. The BLS estimates 4,400 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Vermont, or Montana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor

Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors make between $42,320 and $122,910 a year.

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Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors who work in California, New Jersey, or New York, make the highest salaries.

How much do Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $63,180
Alaska $78,020
Arizona $72,460
Arkansas $52,880
California $134,870
Colorado $84,340
Connecticut $88,870
Delaware $80,440
Florida $81,640
Georgia $60,900
Hawaii $92,650
Idaho $58,070
Illinois $90,860
Indiana $66,510
Iowa $70,130
Kansas $59,190
Kentucky $58,350
Louisiana $61,120
Maine $57,410
Maryland $94,490
Massachusetts $85,820
Michigan $68,960
Minnesota $74,970
Mississippi $45,940
Missouri $73,390
Montana $66,710
Nebraska $73,220
Nevada $95,080
New Hampshire $70,420
New Jersey $115,590
New Mexico $59,360
New York $107,730
North Carolina $61,070
North Dakota $70,560
Ohio $71,050
Oklahoma $75,440
Oregon $85,450
Pennsylvania $75,910
Rhode Island $68,550
South Carolina $57,460
South Dakota $72,020
Tennessee $56,430
Texas $76,800
Utah $68,040
Vermont $64,890
Virginia $83,440
Washington $102,430
West Virginia $57,940
Wisconsin $73,610
Wyoming $74,050

What Tools & Technology do Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Email software
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Mapping software
  • Fire incident reporting systems
  • FlamMap
  • FARSITE
  • BehavePlus

How do I Become a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor?

What education or degrees do I need to become a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors Sector

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The table below shows the approximate number of Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors employed by various industries.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor may also be interested in:

Are you already one of the many Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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