Wildland Firefighter (Apprentice) – Rockies, South & Eastern US

Forest Service apprentice firefighter openings at about 150 duty stations, with Colorado the largest block and many more across the Southeast, Ozarks, Great Lakes, Appalachians and Black Hills. Apprentices work on engines, hand crews or helitack, learning pump operations, prescribed-fire ignition and holding, helicopter loading and fire weather data collection, with road and trail project work between fires. Hiring can start at GW-3 with six months of general work experience, while the GW-5 level requires Firefighter Type 1 qualification. Applicants must be 18, pass a drug test and background check, and pass the work capacity test; the announcement notes government housing may be available. Applications close September 22, 2026 on USAJOBS.