What Does it Take to Be a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor?
Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor Example Supervise fire fighters who control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.
A Day in the Life of a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor
- Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities.
- Appraise damage caused by fires and prepare damage reports.
- Direct investigations of suspected arson in wildfires, working closely with other investigating agencies.
- Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.
- Operate wildland fire engines or hoselays.
- Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.
Skills Needed to be a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor
Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Fire Coordinator
- Smoke Jumper Supervisor
- Forest Fire Management Officer
- Forest Fire Specialist Supervisor
- Dispatch Lead
Is There Job Demand for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors?
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,400 job openings in this field each year.
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.
Average Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors Salary
The average yearly salary of a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor ranges between $42,320 and $122,910.
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 each U.S. state?
| 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 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
Becoming a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor
What education or degrees do I need to become a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors?
Below are examples of industries where Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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