Fire Lookout (Forestry Technician GS-4)

Northern Region forests are hiring seasonal fire lookouts for 2027 in north Idaho towns such as Elk City, Grangeville, Kooskia and Orofino, and Montana towns such as Libby, Superior and Troy. A lookout spots smoke with a fire finder, estimates size and distance, reports by radio or phone, records daily weather, keeps the station maintained and shares fire prevention messages. GS-4 needs six months of general plus six months of specialized experience (forestry aid, lookout, dispatch, prevention or suppression work), or two years of study with 12 relevant semester hours. You must be 18 and willing to live and work somewhere remote. Start dates are between April 18 and June 13, 2027, on a temporary appointment of up to 6 months or a year. Pay is $17.82 an hour at the base rate; the posting says only that government housing varies by location, and relocation is not paid. Apply on USAJOBS by 11/12/2026.