PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST

Mt Hough Ranger District Temporary/Seasonal Fire Positions

Temporary/Seasonal Resource Positions

2013

Contents

1. About the Fire Program

2. Engine Crew

3. Hotshot Crew

4. Helitack Crew

5. Fire Lookout

6. Resource Crew

7. Botany

8. Other Resource Positions

9. Contacts

10. How to Apply

11. Fire Resume 101

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a

complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400

Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272

(voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Mt Hough Ranger District Fire Program The Mt Hough Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest is located in Quincy,

California. Quincy is a full service community of 5,000 people located in the Sierras

between Reno, Nevada and Chico, California. Barracks style housing is available to

seasonal employees on a first come first served basis.

The Mt Hough District has an active call volume averaging 35-50 fire responses and 15-

20 all risk responses each year. District resources respond to wildland fires, structure

fires, vehicle accidents, and search and rescue requests. Forest resources are routinely

dispatched out of state to support incidents all over the country. Recent assignments

have seen our firefighters in Colorado, South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska, Florida,

Mississippi, Idaho, and Montana. Firefighting is physically demanding and mentally

challenging. Length of assignments can extend to 14 days and shifts regularly exceed 12

hours. Firefighters on the Mt Hough Ranger District are expected to participate in daily

physical fitness training that includes running, hiking, and weight training.

The Mt Hough District has several fire resources based out of Quincy, Greenville, and

Belden. Resources include a 20 person hotshot crew, helitack crew, five fire engine

crews, a water tender, a dozer, four patrols, a staffed fire lookout, a fuels technician, a

fuels officer, three Battalion Chiefs, and a Division Chief.

Every year the District hires several seasonal positions that run from mid May until late

October. There may be some flexibility to allow for student schedules. Hiring usually

begins in January and runs through March. Applicants should have their applications in

by the end of December. We are looking for a diverse group of physically active

individuals who strive to challenge themselves in a team environment.

Plumas Engine Crews

Engine crews are the first to respond to local incidents on the Plumas

National Forest and State administered lands within Plumas County.

Engine crews are available 7 days week staffed daily with a Captain, a

Fire Engine Operator, an Assistant Operator, and 2 Firefighters. Engines

crews are equipped to respond to all risk incidents including wildland

fires, vehicle accidents, structure fires, and search and rescues. The Mt

Hough engine crews are on a rotation for nation wide response to large

incidents. National assignments may extend beyond 14 days with shifts

lengths up to 16 hours a day.

When not engaged in incident response crews complete training and

project work. Daily physical fitness training includes running, full gear

hikes, and weight training. Project work includes forest thinning, fuels

reduction, trail work, and station duties.

The Mt Hough Ranger District staffs five Type III fire engines and one

water tender. There are 2 engines in Quincy, 2 engines and a water

tender in Greenville, and 1 engine at Gansner Bar near Belden.

For more information contact the Captains of each station listed on the

contact page.

Plumas Hotshots

The Plumas Hotshot Crew is a 20 person Interagency

Hotshot Crew based out of Quincy, CA. Hotshot Crews are

national resources that primarily respond to larger incidents

throughout the country. Hotshots are often used in areas that have

active fire, increased complexity, and difficult terrain. Hotshot crews

provide the backbone of the firefighting effort on large ongoing fires

and are often committed for the majority of the fire season.

Assignments may extend beyond 2 weeks in length with shifts up to 16

hours a day.

When not engaged on fires the crew completes project work and

training. Physical fitness with an emphasis on hiking in difficult terrain

in full gear is completed daily followed by project work that includes

forest thinning and trail work.

The Plumas Hotshot Crew is staffed with a Superintendent, 2 Captains, 2

Squad Leaders, and 15 firefighters. The crew is generally looking for

those people that have some fire background or significant life

experience that would translate into the physical demands of the job.

Crew contact information is listed on the Contact page.

Plumas Helitack

Helitack crews are helicopter delivered fire crews that are

available for national response. The primary mission of

helitack crews is to staff small fires quickly before they become large

fires. During large fires helitack is often called on to provide incident

overhead, fire suppression, logistical support, and aviation management

for the incident. Due to the independent nature of the job

crewmembers often work independently or in small groups requiring

good physical fitness, leadership, and experience.

The Plumas Helitack Crew is staffed with 14 people including a

Superintendent, a Captain, 2 Squad Leaders, and 10 firefighters. The

helicopter is staffed with an 8 person Initial Attack load and 2 people

driving support vehicles.

When not engaged on incidents the crew participates in physical fitness

training including running, hiking, and weight training. Project work

includes welding, forest thinning, and station duties.

Crew contact information is listed on the Contact page.

Lookouts

Lookouts are the first line of defense for fire suppression efforts.

Lookouts are staffed with a full time lookout and a part time lookout to

cover days off. The lookout’s job is to locate emerging fires and

communicate fire information to the local dispatch center. Lookouts

also host tower visitors and provide current and historic information to

forest visitors. The job is solitary in nature often going days on end

without contact with people. The lookouts may be engaged in small

repairs and maintenance of the lookout tower.

The Plumas National Forest staffs several lookouts. The Mt Hough

Ranger District staffs the Mt Hough Lookout. The tower is self sufficient

with a bedroom, kitchen, shower, outhouse, telephone, and internet

service. There is a graded road that allows for easy access to the tower.

Although not required the lookout assigned has historically lived at the

tower. Weather can be cold, windy, and change suddenly at 7000 feet

elevation. The tower receives a significant amount of snow that lasts

well into spring.

Contact Battalion 23 on the contacts page for Mt Hough Lookout

information.

Dozer 2

The Plumas National Forest hosts 3 regional fire dozers, one on each

district. The Mt Hough dozer is staffed with one dozer operator and one

temporary/seasonal swamper. The dozer responds to incidents

throughout the country and spends a significant time committed to

large incidents.

When not engaged on incidents the dozer crew performs routine

maintenance, works fuels projects, and participates in district project

work. Good physical fitness is required due to heavy lifting, long walks

in steep terrain, and shift lengths of 16 hours on assignment.

Contact info for Dozer 2 is on the contacts page.

Resource Crew

The mission of the Resource Crew is timber sale preparation that

includes sale layout, boundary designations, marking by silvicultural

prescription, and timber cruising for volume and cost appraisals. The

crew is staffed with a Resource Project Coordinator, 2 Crew Leaders, 2-6

senior crewmembers, and the potential for several temporary/seasonal

crewmembers.

The Resource Crew is available to provide services to other departments

including Recreation, Archeology, Wildlife, Botany, and Fire. Work may

include trail projects, archeology site designation, owl surveys, stream

restoration, timber stand exams, noxious weed identification, fire

fighting, and other misc projects.

Due to the nature of the job crew members often work individually or in

in small groups as the work requires. Crew members should have good

physical fitness, initiative, and experience.

Crew contacts listed on the contacts page.

Botany

The Plumas National Forest, Mt. Hough Ranger District, is looking for

qualified field botanists for the summer 2013 field season. Seasonal

Botanists, Biological Science Technicians, and Biological Aids are needed

for 3-6 months.

Botanists conduct field surveys for rare vascular plants and in some

cases lichens and bryophytes, map their locations with GPS units, and

document their populations and habitat characteristics. They locate,

map, and manually remove invasive plants. Some herbicide application

may be used to control specific invasive plant populations.

Additional duties likely include documentation of survey results, report

writing, data entry, herbarium specimen collection, environmental

education, and native seed collection. GIS map making skills are a plus.

Desired skills include: enthusiasm for plant identification using

taxonomic keys, familiarity with California flora, non-vascular plant and

lichen ID; use of GPS, topographic maps, and compass; ARCMAP GIS and

database skill; ability to operate vehicles on rough roads, including use

of 4WD, good physical fitness; and willingness to work under difficult

field conditions, good interpersonal skills.

Botanist contact information on contacts page.

Other Positions

Temporary/Seasonal positions on the district cover almost every

department. Positions are not limited to the jobs highlighted within this

guide. Fire, Timber, Botany, Archeology, Recreation, GIS, and Wildlife

all may have positions available depending on funding. Contacts for the

different departments are listed on the contacts page. You are

encouraged to call any of the people listed as they can advise you on

what is available and how to apply.

Contacts

Mt Hough District Office 530 283-0555

Fire Program Name Position Location Phone

Randy Jennings Division Chief 2 Quincy 530 283-7630

VACANT Battalion Chief 21 Quincy 530 283-7671

Jeff Dupras Battalion Chief 23 Quincy 530 283-7674

Jack Sevelson Hotshot Superintendent Quincy 530 283-7636

Joel Schilling Hotshot Captain Quincy 530 283-7637

Mike Sherman Hotshot Captain Quincy 530 283-7638

Bryan Johnson Helitack Superintendent Quincy 530 283-7836

Brian Baker Helitack Captain Quincy 530 283-7836

Leon Jeffrey Engine Captain 20 Greenville 530 284-7136

Tommy Brenzovich Engine Captain 22 Greenville 530 284-6839

Zac Cogle Engine Captain 23 Quincy 530 283-9139

Steve Tolen Engine Captain 24 Quincy 530 283-9375

James Lico Engine Captain 25 Belden 530 283-2260

Dave Kinateder Fire Ecologist Quincy 530 283-7676

Travis Adams Dozer Operator Quincy 530 283-7677

Resource Programs Name Department Location Phone

Jim Evans Recreation Quincy 530 283-7625

Joe Smailes Timber Quincy 530 283-7654

Frank Hanson Resource Crew Coordinator Quincy 530 283-7647

Matt Waterson Resource Crew Leader Quincy 530 283-7685

Jeannine Sibley Resource Crew Leader Quincy 530 283.7688

Christina Weinberg Archeology Quincy 530 283-7662

Jim Belsher-Howe Botany Quincy 530 283-7657

How to Apply

All temporary firefighting positions are filled at the GS-3, GS-4, and GS-5

pay grade levels. The GS-03 Fire Aide and GS-04 Forestry Technician are

entry level positions. The GS-05 Senior Firefighter requires previous

firefighting experience, Firefighter 1 qualification, and the S-290

Intermediate Fire Behavior class certification. You may access current

pay scales at OPM.gov. The Plumas NF pay scale is included under Rest

of the US.

Applications for all temporary positions are submitted through

USAJOBS.gov.

1. Go to USAJOBS.gov

2. Click on Advanced Search

3. Scroll down to Agency Search/Choose Department and highlight

Dept of Agriculture

4. Under Refine Agency Choice highlight Forest Service

5. Click Add

6. Under Type of Work check the Temporary box

7. Click Search Jobs

Job descriptions and pay grades are listed within the announcement.

Most have a generic title such as Forestry Technician (Hotshot). You

have to apply to each position that you are interested in. Select the

position title. On the position description page you will see several tabs

on the top of the page: Overview, Duties, Qualifications, Benefits, and

How to Apply. Please read each carefully. If you have any questions

contact the supervisor of the program you want to apply to listed on the

contacts page of this guide.

If it is your first time applying to a position in USAJOBS you will need to

create a new account. You will be automatically directed to a login page

when you click on the right hand side blue button Apply Online. In your

newly created profile you may build your resume through USAJOBS or

you may attach your own resume. Either way make sure you are

attaching all required documents listed under “How to Apply” within

each job description you have chosen. If you are having trouble

navigating the system and applying for a position do not hesitate to call

one of our crew leaders to help to you. Applying for a Federal position

takes time and there are a lot of steps.

***If prompted for the specific location you are interested in make

sure you choose Quincy, Greenville, and Belden California.***

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a

complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,

1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call

(800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Fire Resumes 101

Often in fire people build resumes that give little to no description of

what their individual strengths are. Remember your resume is the first

impression a selection official is exposed to. Here are a few tips in

building your resume to ensure the selecting officials get a good picture

of who you are and what you have to offer.

1. List all previous volunteer, military, and professional structure and

wildland fire positions and experience.

2. Ensure all previous employer phone numbers are correct and current

3. Include leadership skills and experience

4. Relate your experience to working in a team environment

5. Convey your physical fitness level

6. List skill sets that are assets to the program. Welding, construction,

plumbing, mechanical skills, computer skills, etc.

7. List course you have taken, licenses and certifications you have such as

EMT or Paramedic, commercial driver’s license, heavy equipment

operator certs, etc.

8. List awards and recognition you have received

9. List specific life experiences that add value to your skill set

10. Ensure you follow up with a phone call to the crews you applied to

Remember fighting fires is a physically demanding, mentally taxing,

team sport. In your resume paint the picture that will show how you

will fit in and contribute in that environment.