What You Need to Know About Forest Firefighter
Occupation Description Control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.
Daily Life Of a Forest Firefighter
- Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill.
- Inform and educate the public about fire prevention.
- Rescue fire victims, and administer emergency medical aid.
- Observe forest areas from fire lookout towers to spot potential problems.
- Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
- Drop weighted paper streamers from aircraft to determine the speed and direction of the wind at fire sites.
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Qualities of a Forest Firefighter
When polled, Forest Firefighters say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles
- Fire Fighter
- On-Scene Supporter
- Smoke Chaser
- Forest Fire Suppression Specialist
- Smoke Jumper
Are There Job Opportunities for Forest Firefighters?
In the United States, there were 327,300 jobs for Forest Firefighter in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,600 new jobs for Forest Firefighter by 2026. The BLS estimates 24,300 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Forest Firefighter are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Forest Firefighters Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Forest Firefighter ranges between $25,170 and $88,920.
Forest Firefighters who work in New York, New Jersey, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Forest Firefighters in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,740 |
| Alaska | $51,110 |
| Arizona | $45,150 |
| Arkansas | $37,800 |
| California | $81,580 |
| Colorado | $61,160 |
| Connecticut | $63,630 |
| Delaware | $48,800 |
| Florida | $53,340 |
| Georgia | $38,060 |
| Hawaii | $62,670 |
| Idaho | $40,490 |
| Illinois | $56,710 |
| Indiana | $49,460 |
| Iowa | $43,970 |
| Kansas | $37,930 |
| Kentucky | $33,520 |
| Louisiana | $30,600 |
| Maine | $36,750 |
| Maryland | $61,780 |
| Massachusetts | $60,080 |
| Michigan | $45,440 |
| Minnesota | $37,690 |
| Mississippi | $30,370 |
| Missouri | $51,100 |
| Montana | $49,230 |
| Nebraska | $47,880 |
| Nevada | $66,830 |
| New Hampshire | $48,640 |
| New Jersey | $76,530 |
| New Mexico | $36,590 |
| New York | $73,710 |
| North Carolina | $35,500 |
| North Dakota | $42,980 |
| Ohio | $46,310 |
| Oklahoma | $43,450 |
| Oregon | $66,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,090 |
| Rhode Island | $55,240 |
| South Carolina | $36,300 |
| South Dakota | $44,710 |
| Tennessee | $40,280 |
| Texas | $52,520 |
| Utah | $37,960 |
| Vermont | $37,070 |
| Virginia | $51,510 |
| Washington | $73,850 |
| West Virginia | $36,820 |
| Wisconsin | $40,310 |
| Wyoming | $43,810 |
What Tools do Forest Firefighters Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Forest Firefighters may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Corel WordPerfect
- Fire incident reporting systems
How do I Become a Forest Firefighter?
Learn what Forest Firefighter education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become a Forest Firefighter?
Where Forest Firefighters Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Career changers with experience as a Forest Firefighter sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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