Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Career Description: Enforce fire regulations and inspect for forest fire hazards. Report forest fires and weather conditions.

Industry: Protective Service

Other Job Titles for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions.
• Direct crews working on firelines during forest fires.
• Estimate sizes and characteristics of fires, and report findings to base camps by radio or telephone.
• Administer regulations regarding sanitation, fire prevention, violation corrections, and related forest regulations.
• Extinguish smaller fires with portable extinguishers, shovels, and axes.
• Locate forest fires on area maps, using azimuth sighters and known landmarks.
• Maintain records and logbooks.
• Examine and inventory firefighting equipment such as axes, fire hoses, shovels, pumps, buckets, and fire extinguishers in order to determine amount and condition.
• Direct maintenance and repair of firefighting equipment, or requisition new equipment.
• Restrict public access and recreational use of forest lands during critical fire seasons.
• Patrol assigned areas, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena.
• 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.
• Inspect forest tracts and logging areas for fire hazards such as accumulated wastes or mishandling of combustibles, and recommend appropriate fire prevention measures.
• Observe fires and crews from air to determine firefighting force requirements and to note changing conditions that will affect firefighting efforts.
• Inspect all stations, uniforms, equipment, and recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
• Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities.
• Regulate open burning by issuing burning permits, inspecting problem sites, issuing citations for violations of laws and ordinances, and educating the public in proper burning practices.
• Direct investigations of suspected arsons in wildfires, working closely with other investigating agencies.
• Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.
• Lead work crews in the maintenance of structures and access roads in forest areas.
• Drive crew carriers to transport firefighters to fire sites.
• Educate the public about forest fire prevention by participating in activities, such as exhibits and presentations, and by distributing promotional materials.
• Investigate special fire issues, such as railroad fire problems, right-of-way burning, and slash disposal problems.
• Appraise damage caused by fires and prepare damage reports.
• Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment such as a computer.

Emerging Tasks

• Conduct wildland firefighting training.
• Educate the public about fire safety and prevention.
• Maintain court docket.
• Provide security by patrolling interior and exterior of courthouse and escorting judges and other court employees.
• Screen persons entering courthouse using magnetometers, x-ray machines, and other devices to collect and retain unauthorized firearms and other contraband.
• Screen, control, and handle evidence and exhibits during court proceedings.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• communicate technical information
• conduct fire hazard inspections
• control and extinguish municipal or forest fires
• cooperate with court personnel or other law enforcement agencies
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
• estimate size or characteristics of fire
• explain government laws or regulations
• give directions to crew on fire line during forest fire
• give instructions regarding forest regulations to campers
• inventory stock to ensure adequate supplies
• maintain records, reports, or files
• monitor atmospheric or meteorological processes
• monitor meteorological conditions
• move or fit heavy objects
• patrol or guard area or premises
• read maps
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• use forest fire protection methods
• use meteorological equipment or instruments
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use surveillance techniques
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• work as a team member
• operate cameras
• operate helicopters
• operate vehicles in law enforcement or security setting
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• patrol or guard area or premises
• pilot aircraft
• prepare reports
• read maps
• recognize public safety hazards
• ride horses during law enforcement work
• search for overdue aircraft
• serve arrest, search or seizure warrants
• testify in court for accident and criminal cases
• use arrest, search, or seizure legal statutes
• use firearms
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of geographic coordinates
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$15.11
• Average annual wage (2007) - $31,420.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 2.10%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 38
• Employment (2006): 1,815

• Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
• Fish and Game Wardens
• Forest Fire Fighters
• Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors
• Immigration and Customs Inspectors
• Municipal Fire Fighters
• Security Guards
• Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
• Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
• Transit and Railroad Police