I try and stay up to date but I’m sure many know more than me. I thought the 20k retention payments were funded from BIL money which is expired or expiring now. But also remember something about Congress mandating the 20k retention payments and the FS just making it “work” with their current budgets. Can anyone enlighten me? Someone recently told me it’s expiring 2025 but that was news to me.

What can 10 years of fighting fire and jumping outta planes do for me when trying to start a business or make some side cash this winter? (Nothing sexual)

I'm going to be doing an internship in land management in a few months that will involve conducting prescribed burns. Of course, there is no boot stipend, and I'm a broke college student. I own a pair of 8" leather station boots from a previous structural gig, but they are not FR rated and I'm concerned they'll delaminate quickly. If I get expensive wildland boots, I have no idea if I will use them again. Do you guys have any suggestions?

^^Curious, would like to live in that area but not looking to get locked up on district as a type 2 resource. Haven't bumped into them or heard about them from anyone recently. Thanks!

I've heard this term thrown around a bit, but I wonder what people feel classifies someone as a GS Fantastic?

Going through my resume to apply at some jump bases and I’ve just been recycling and adding to my original resume since I got on my current crew. It needs some work. Anybody got any pointers or examples? Or just go with the standard lengthy fire resume?

Does wildland firefighting do apprenticeships?

Anyone know when I could expect to hear back about R5 perm jobs? The positions I put in for are GS-7. I was told maybe next week by DFMO and mid-late November, potentially even December by district ranger.

November 1st, 2024

CalFire state fire Grand Marshall Danniel Berlant takes a stand against genderphobia with his new policy change which will be implemented starting April 1st, 2025. Starting in April CalFire, its employees and affiliates will no longer utilize the terms "male" and "female" to refer to the ends of a fire hose. Instead the outdated terminology will be replaced, the threaded side being referred to as the "giving end" and the other referred to as the "receiving end". The adjusting of articles and statements already put out by CalFire is underway and all outdated terms will be replaced.

The policy change follows after rising concerns over the wildland firefighting community becoming too unwelcoming to non-binary individuals. "We are so excited to be in a time where we can witness progress in the wildfire industry with our own eyes," Chief Berlant says in a press conference. "By changing the terms and lauguage that we use we'll be more effective in fighting California's - and the nation's wildfires. It is important to remember that our men and women and non-binary individuals on the front lines are all that stands between the incoming inferno and people's property and livelihoods. Changing the way we refer to hose ends will help achieve our goal of inclusion for everybody."

When asked about potential confusion involved in changing terms so common to the industry, Berlant shrugged it off saying, "In the wildfire world your environment is always changing. Just a slight shift in the direction of wind blowing can mean a drastic change in tactics and suppression effort. I'm confident that CalFire employees are already well equipped in being able to adapt in the environment and utilize positive changes."

Daniel Berlant was appointed State Fire Marshal by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 6, 2023.

Chief Berlant began his career with CAL FIRE in 2001 as a volunteer and was hired in 2002 in the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit. In 2005, he began working in the CAL FIRE Communications Office as a Fire Prevention Specialist in Sacramento.

After several fire sieges and extensive work in the public information function, he was promoted in 2008 to Department Information Officer and was tasked with serving as CAL FIRE's main spokesperson. In 2014, he was promoted to the Chief of Public Information overseeing the Sacramento and Region staff of the Communications Office. In 2016, Chief Berlant was promoted to Assistant Deputy Director at the Office of the State Fire Marshal over the Wildfire Planning & Engineering, and Fire Engineering & Investigations Divisions.

The Deputy Director of Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation is new to the Department after being established through the passage of Assembly Bill 9 (2021), which created the Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Division within the Office State Fire Marshal. The Division will be responsible for the policy and program leadership for Defensible Space, Home Hardening/WUI Building Codes, Land Use Planning, Fire Prevention Grants, Pre-Fire/Fire Plan, Utility Wildfire Mitigation, fire hazard/risk mapping, and incident reporting (CalFIRS/NFIRS). In addition, Chief Berlant will continue oversight of the OSFM Fire Engineering & Investigations Division responsible for fire protection related Licensing/Certification, Arson & Bomb, and Fireworks Enforcement/Disposal.

Chief Berlant holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.

Hi, me again.

So, back in mid-September, I had put in an application for a full-time job posting with the US Forest Service for various locations across the US. Being in North Carolina, I applied to the positions in WNC, ETN, Kentucky and Northwest GA. This was about a week or so before Helene.

I understand the gravity of the situation out there, in fact I was out there after the storm hit with my current employer to offer rescue aid where we could. I understand that it's probably going to be a while before those positions are worried about fielding applications. I was just more or less curious if anybody knew what things were looking like for the people working within the USFS in the affected areas?

Does Cherokee do summer and fall hiring? Or just one round for the fall?

Hey everyone ,

I got a question regarding the types of leave benefits I have available to me.

Let me preface this by saying this did not happen at work and isnt work incident related in any sort. This is my first season with the USFS. 26/0 to be exact. I started in Feb. Life has decided i need a back fusion at some point this winter.

The office lady we had that knew the answers to this, retired. Other than using my annual leave to recover and still have an income, is there any paid time off available for me that I'm not aware of? The only form of other leave i have been able to find is FMLA, which is unpaid and unsure if I meet the requirements to use it.

You complain about people not responding and do the same to people that do reach out.

I cant tell you how many times I heard we will reach out in the next day or two and they don’t.

I’m bitching because I was told two days ago I was top candidate and to expect a call that evening or by noon the next day about a tentative offer.

Here we are two days later and I’ve not heard anything. I was traveling and they knew that. I reached out in between flights as we had discussed to let them know when I landed from my first flight and nothing. Here we are right on the third day and crickets.

If you’re a hiring manager and you want people to reach out, respond to interest calls/emails, and make effort then you should give the same courtesy.

Us lowly non-fantastics talk too. You can’t string people along and then bitch about not getting applicants or not being able to get people to return emails and calls. I’m sure I’m not the only one this has happened to.

Updated: apparently the forest supervisor chose someone else. That is fine. AFMO supposedly wanted me and the forest supervisor went in a different direction. My point stands. I spent three weeks working with this AFMO about this position and he told me to expect a call about an offer. I finally called him to see what’s what and that’s when he informed me. My point stands. He should be more professional and let me know they went in a different direction. Hiring managers can’t get mad people back out and strong people along. I’ve been turning down offers for this job. Hiring managers, please remember what it was like as a seasonal and lower level (5-7) perm trying to get a job.

Are there places I can get red card training on demand in person. Class and testing done all at once?

Anybody have some intel on a AA powered strobe that isn't going to break the bank? Also, how many lumens are you looking for?

Caress my balls lick my taint.

I am An august hot shot

Anyone know if R2 has gotten through perm hiring yet and put out offers? Hoping to get on somewhere in Colorado but wasn’t sure if they finished yet.

For anyone who has worked for the C’s, I’m wondering how long the hiring process takes. My recruiter has told me I’m fire ready as of today and to keep filling out my fitness trackers. Currently unemployed and getting sick of it. Just want to start. Doordash isn’t as lucrative as it used to be so I’m considering getting a 9-5 in the meantime.

To the people who have worked in the C’s, how long did you have to wait for pack test, ect? Thanks and God bless

Has anyone worked with this crew in the past are they a good crew to work for?

When is the fire season over

Is this normal? I applied back in August and the package got referred 2 days later. Have heard nothing since then. From what I’ve been told these openings are supposed to start in December.

How hard is the pack test, I’m super worried about it, I’m in shape but I’m worried I won’t pass it, any tips or advice?

A few months ago someone posted something to the effect of "what is your most controversial opinion about wildland fire".

I responded that "flip flops aren't necessary in the showers".

I was downvoted into oblivion and deleted my comment out of shame, but stuck to my principles while on assignment.

Here I am, several months later, less than a week back from fire camp with a RIPPIN case of athletes foot (they actually announced during briefing that it was going around).

Anyways, you were all right, I was wrong. I'll be packin the flops next time I head out.

Hi all hope your well if any of you guys are professional wildfire/ forest fire fighters it would be hugely appreciated if you wouldn't mind filling in a short questionnaire for a college project i am doing have a great day

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqAJlEK3gub-yLBNKTX1H6xU_2c9fj7pZYVLwA4a3XMNy65Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

I was referred to hiring managers for different hotshot positions about a month ago. When should I expect to get calls/interviews if I make it that far?

Dropping off yellow shirts in 6 inches of snow was a new one for me.