DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Address: 3625 S. Winchester Road Apache Junction, AZ 85119

Salary: $16.7260 - $20.2400 Hourly 

Grade: 13

Closing Date: April 12, 2026

This position is established within the Department of Forestry and Fire Management to serve as a crew member on a 20 person Hand Crew. Serves as a firefighter on a hand crew or other related fire suppression crews performing fire suppression and/or fuels management duties under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain. Performs all aspects of wildland fire control, fuels mitigation. Collects fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records. Maintains a variety of equipment, small engines, tools, facilities and vehicles.

• Performs all aspects of wildland fire control, fuels mitigation including line construction, line preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop up. Collects fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records.
  
• Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior in responding to wildland fire incidents.
  
• Is responsible for operation and maintenance of specialized equipment used to respond to wildland fire, fuels mitigation and prescribed fire situations.
  
• Participates in wildland fire and safety training. Participates in crew proficiency checks and drills, safety sessions, and fire critiques. Ensures own and other's welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignment.
  
• Provides for repairs, general maintenance and preventative maintenance of all tools, equipment, small engines and facilities as directed.
  Other duties as assigned.

• Fire behavior including causes of wildland fire, influence of temperature, humidity, wind, topography, slope and fuel moisture conditions, and fuels in order to know where to attack the fire, build fire line, where to be positioned to manage a wildland fire, and to identify hazards.
  
• Accepted fire safety practices and procedures to prevent injury and loss of life.
  
• Wildland fire management techniques, methods and conditions to accurately analyze fire circumstances. Specific technical firefighting knowledge such as hand crew operations to enable the incumbent to function in assigned capacities and to instruct or lead others in those duties
  

Skills in:

• The use and operation, maintenance, repair and care of wildland firefighting hand tools, chain saws, small engines, vehicles and facilities.
  

Ability to:

• Work as a cohesive team member of a 20 person hand crew.
  
• Practice fire suppression under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain. Perform in specific fire assignments, (i.e., chainsaw operator, faller, etc.) safely and efficiently.

• Work experience as a firefighter on a Department of Corrections crew.

• NWCG Firefighter, Type 2 qualified
  

Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans.
  
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
  
• 10 paid holidays per year
  
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program, learn more at hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion).
  
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
  
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
  
• Deferred compensation plan
  
• Wellness plans
  
• Tuition reimbursement eligible after one year of employment

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
  
• Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.
  
• Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.
  
• The current contribution rate is 12.00%.
  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Selene Rojas at srojas@dffm.az.gov for assistance.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 623-236-6664. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.