Wildfire dispatchers

[EMSsquirrel]

Hello, everyone! Was hoping someone here would have some information on the duties of a wildland fire dispatcher, and how to go about getting employed.

My experience is primarily in municipal fire and EMS dispatch, but I'm presuming that wouldn't really transfer over. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks! :D

[6392G2]

One thing that would be helpful to others on this forum would be whether you wanted state or national. I know that in our state system there is training that has to be completed in Wildland Dispatching before you can dispatch, however experience helps a lot.

As to the job description, I've seen them having to do:
Dispatch of Trucks and Crews
Dispatching of Air Ops
Map reading
Logistics - Food, Sleeping quarters, Gas, the whole gambit
Logs of calls and coordinates
Meteorologist - Temp, Humidity, Wind direction and speed, Forecasting
Minor Radio Maintenance - Batteries, Shoulder mikes, Channel programming
Organizer - Who is who and where, and then why

Hope this helped a little

6392G2

[EMSsquirrel]

I suppose I was looking more at National, although I'd be willing to do State also. Does your system train the people it hires, or is the training gotten from some outside agency before being hired?

Thanks for the reply!

[RxFire]

here's a vacancy announcement with the Bureau of Land Mgmt to give you an idea of what they're looking for..... http://jsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/ftva.asp?OPMControl=IJ5792

[raven911]

If i'm not mistaken, these guys have more to do with jobs like flight and freight dispatching than municipal emergency dispatch.