Wildland Firefighter (GW-3) – Northern Region

The Forest Service’s Northern Region is filling crew spots for the 2027 fire season across Montana, north Idaho and the western Dakotas, in towns such as Missoula, Bozeman, Kalispell, Helena, Coeur d’Alene and Dickinson. Crewmembers work on an engine, hotshot, helitack or hand crew building fireline, putting out burning material, watching for flare-ups and maintaining tools. You need six months of any work showing you can do the job, or related schooling or fire training in its place, and high school fire training also counts. Expect to pass the arduous pack test (3 miles in 45 minutes with 45 pounds), a medical screening and drug testing. Start dates fall between April 18 and June 13, 2027, on a temporary appointment of up to 6 months or a year. Pay is $21.14 an hour at the base rate and varies by location; government housing depends on the station and moving costs are not paid. Apply on USAJOBS by 11/12/2026 with a resume of two pages or less.