Fire Information

National Incident Information Center

Start your search here for information on fires and other natural disasters that occur nationwide. The Morning Report is published daily during fire season and provides information on the current wildland fire situation, burned area rehabilitation activities, regional fire summaries, weather reports and closure orders for fires 500 acres and larger. The Large Fire Map (again, for large incidents greater than 500 acres) is a fast start for finding fire information across the nation.

The National Interagency Fire Center is hosting the Current Wildland Fire Information web site, a new service to provide the public access to a centralized, standardized, one-stop-shop site for current large wildfire information. The site is structured in an easy-to-navigate style, with national, state and incident (individual fire) level pages. This is a national support center for wildland firefighting.

Northern Rockies Coordination Center, Missoula, MT
This site is more technical in nature, but also has current fire incident information.

The Federal Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FFAST) encourages every fire program to become involved in Six Minutes for Safety. This is the first interagency safety initiative that, on a daily basis, addresses the high risk situations that historically get our people in trouble. The fire community continuously works to find new ways to keep our people safe on the fireline, and we think this new initiative will have a tremendous positive impact.
.http://www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_sixminutes.php

Fire Hire

Link to Washington Office FIRE EMPLOYMENT

Firefighters, scientists, resource managers, communications and computer technicians, business managers...Fire & Aviation offers job opportunities as diverse as the Forest Service itself!

As the name implies, Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management is a wide field, encompassing firefighters, fire ecologists, fuels specialists, fire managers, administrative personnel, helicopter and fixed wing pilots, aviation and ground safety professionals, radio communications and electronic technicians, dispatchers, fire prevention specialists, and communicators. Generally, the Forest Service workforce reaches its highest numbers during the peak fire season each summer. There are many kinds of schedules available to work. Some sign on for a limited number of hours during the summer - they are called seasonals. Others have permanent seasonal positions, and work 26 weeks with 26 weeks off. Others work full time, year around, but have limited appointments or a "not to exceed" time limit of one to four years. And there is a large permanent, full time workforce as well — that have chosen Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management for their career.

Individuals who want to be seasonal firefighters need to think about wildland firefighting in January. That's when most applications are due. Anyone interested in a job (permanent or temporary) with the Forest Service, or other federal agencies, can check the Office of Personnel Management listing, USDA Forest Service Temporary Employment and FS Jobs web sites to see what vacancies are open.

The USDA Forest Service is implementing a new application program for nationwide centralized recruitment notices for the 2004 season. Applicants can apply online.