Fire Lookout (Forestry Aid / Technician)

Created at: October 21, 2025 00:12

Company: Bureau of Land Management

Location: Ashland, MT, 59003

Job Description:

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This is a Public Notice for positions being filled under the Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) for Wildland Fire. Under this recruitment procedure applications will be accepted for each location identified in this Public Notice. Veterans' Preference is not applicable to this announcement. To learn more about Direct-Hire Authority, go to: OPM.GOV Hiring Information - DHA.
Hours worked per week must be stated for each season and position held in your resume. ***Experience listed will need to include specific duties about the work being performed and should not be only the general language stated below in the examples. To qualify for a GS-03 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). Six (6) months of general work experience which can be any work experience. -OR- 2). One (1) year of education above the high school level, which included at least six (6) semester hours in any combination of the following courses: range management; range conservation; agriculture; forestry; wildlife management; engineering; biology; mathematics; other natural or physical sciences. -OR- 3). A combination of education and work experience as described above. To qualify for a GS-04 You must meet at least one of the following: 1). Six (6) months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND six (6) months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-03 level duties. Examples of specialized work experience include: On-the-line wildland fire experience or work as a wildland fire lookout. -OR- 2). Two (2) years of education above the high school level which included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of the following courses: forestry, agriculture, crop or plant science, range management or conservation, wildlife management, watershed management, soil science, natural resources (except marine fisheries and oceanography), outdoor recreation management, civil or forest engineering, or wildland fire science. No more than 3 semester hours of mathematics is creditable toward this requirement. -OR- 3). An equivalent combination of the education and experience specified above. For more information regarding basic qualifications and combining education and experience click here. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: The position is primarily sedentary in nature, but the employee must meet the established physical requirements for taking initial attack action on fires occuring within the immediate vicinity of the lookout tower. If assigned firefighting reposnsibilities, the employee is subject to the arduous physical requirements of the GS-455/462 standard. Work Environment: The position primarily operates within an office type environment at an isolated work location. When assigned to suppression activites, however, the employee will be exposed to various terrain, weather, smoke and fire conditions. Special safety precautions and the use of safety equipment is required during these assignments.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking for temporary employees to work as Fire Lookouts in Ashland, MT. A Fire Lookout (GS-03 Forestry Aid) maintains surveillance to detect and report the occurrence of fires, status of fires, suspicious smokes, smoke like dusts or unusual volumes of legitimate smoke. Uses standard equipment to locate smokes reported by others, estimate distances, ascertain probable distances to smokes, and supplies specific observations. Records and reports daily weather observations. A Fire Lookout (GS-04 Forestry Technician) maintains surveillance to detect and report the occurrence of fires, status for fires, suspicious smokes, smoke like dusts, or unusual volumes of legitimate smoke. Uses standard equipment to locate smokes reported by others, estimate distances, ascertain probable distances to smokes, ascertain the probable size and characteristics of fires. Reports and locates fires on maps. Records and reports daily weather observations. Maintains or directs others in maintaining records and log books. For contact information and housing availability, visit Fire Contacts on the DOI FIRES website. To view a list of contacts by agency, select Montana. For more information about temporary fire positions with DOI, go to the following link: https://www.firejobs.doi.gov/.


See details

Back to jobs