What Does it Take to Be a Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist?

Occupation Description Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.

Life as a Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist: What Do They Do?

• Administer regulations regarding sanitation, fire prevention, violation corrections, and related forest regulations.
• Compile and report meteorological data, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and velocity, and types of cloud formations.
• Inspect camp sites to ensure that campers are in compliance with forest use regulations.
• Restrict public access and recreational use of forest lands during critical fire seasons.
• Estimate sizes and characteristics of fires, and report findings to base camps by radio or telephone.
• Patrol assigned areas, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena.

What Every Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist Should Know

These are the skills Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists say are the most useful in their careers:

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

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

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.

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

Other Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist Job Titles

• Forest Officer
• Scout
• Forest Fire Officer
• Forest Fire Lookout
• Forester

Are There Job Opportunities for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists?

There were about 1,700 jobs for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 26.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 500 new jobs for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists by 2026. There will be an estimated 200 positions for Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists are Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.

Watch out if you plan on working in Oregon, New Jersey, or Idaho. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist Make?

The average yearly salary of a Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist ranges between $26,660 and $83,810. A Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist median salary is $39,600.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$82,000
Texas	$63,470
Oregon	$62,630
Colorado	$43,650
Arkansas	$35,620
Alabama	$34,990
Mississippi	$28,300

Tools & Technologies Used by Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

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

• Microsoft Word

How to Become a Forest Fire Inspector or Prevention Specialist

Individuals working as Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists?

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons