Wildland Firefighter Apprentice – Northern Region

A permanent apprenticeship track for people starting a federal fire career in Region 1, with duty stations across Montana (Missoula, Bozeman, Kalispell, Helena, Libby and many small districts), Idaho panhandle towns like Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, and a few in the Dakotas. Apprentices work on engines, helitack modules and hand crews while progressing from GW-3 to GW-5. Requirements match other federal fire jobs: U.S. citizen, 18 or older and generally under 37, valid driver’s license, background check and drug testing, and a passing arduous pack test. Six months of general work experience is enough to qualify at the entry grade, and government housing may be available at some stations. Applications close September 22, 2026.