Source: National Interagency Fire Center
The National Interagency Fire Center has received
many inquiries
from concerned citizens wanting to assist with firefighting efforts
throughout the West. While these offers of support are greatly
appreciated, the Fire Center does not hire wildland firefighters or
support personnel. Rather, NIFC relies on resources from local land
management agencies. These offices typically work through local job
service offices to recruit firefighters and other
entry-level fire support personnel. This process usually takes place in
the off-season between December and February with training in early to
late spring. During the fire season, especially one this extreme, those
who conduct this training are involved in fire suppression activities.
During periods of extreme activity involving all
civilian firefighters and support personnel, we rely heavily on our
partners in the military and National Guard. These troops are well
organized, in good physical condition and require very little training
to assist in firefighting efforts. For example, a battalion from the Army and one from the Marines are currently assigned to
wildland fires in Idaho. Also, as individual states prepare to handle
increased activity, local National Guard members may be activated. Another source for assistance are
our foreign partners. We have an agreement with Canada, and are currently
using aircraft and management personnel. We have also
requested firefighting crews from Canada.
Here are some tips for those interested in helping with the
western wildland fires.
- You must be a member of a sponsored, organized crew and receive the
proper training and physical testing to participate with wildland
firefighting activities.
- Check with the local land management agency in your area to find out
if they are hiring firefighters, other support personnel, or have
a need for equipment. Many agencies work with local job service
offices to recruit for these positions.
- The USDA Forest
Service Fire and Aviation Management web site offers a
description of the various firefighting crews, working conditions and
training.
Here are a list of links to land management agencies throughout the
country.
- National Association of State
Foresters - This is a great contact especially for those from
states in the Eastern and Southern areas
- Bureau of
Land Management - The BLM has offices only in the western
states. This page is a list off all BLM offices and includes links to
web pages.
- USDA Forest
Service - This is a directory page from the Forest Service
with information on how to contact each forest throughout the country.
- National
Park Service - There are National Parks located throughout the
country. Some have fire suppression resources, some do not. Here is a
link to the NPS site listing the National Parks in alphabetic order.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Fish and Wildlife Refuges throughout the country.
- The National Fire News lists all of
the current large wildland fires throughout the country along with a
fire information contact when it is available. There are also
links to the local agency when available
