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Life As a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor
Occupation Description Supervise fire fighters who control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.
Life As a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor
- Recruit or hire forest firefighting personnel.
- Regulate open burning by issuing burning permits, inspecting problem sites, issuing citations for violations of laws and ordinances, or educating the public in proper burning practices.
- Direct investigations of suspected arson in wildfires, working closely with other investigating agencies.
- Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.
- Inspect stations, uniforms, equipment, or recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
- Investigate special fire issues, such as railroad fire problems, right-of-way burning, or slash disposal problems.
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What Every Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors say are important on the job.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Fire Supervisor
- Section Forest Fire Warden
- Fire Management Officer
- Fire Coordinator
- Crew Boss
What Kind of Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 59,100 jobs for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,200 new jobs for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor per year.
The states with the most job growth for Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Vermont, or Montana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor Make?
The average yearly salary of a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor ranges between $42,320 and $122,910.
Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors who work in California, New Jersey, or New York, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $63,180 |
Alaska | $78,020 |
Arizona | $72,460 |
Arkansas | $52,880 |
California | $134,870 |
Colorado | $84,340 |
Connecticut | $88,870 |
Delaware | $80,440 |
Florida | $81,640 |
Georgia | $60,900 |
Hawaii | $92,650 |
Idaho | $58,070 |
Illinois | $90,860 |
Indiana | $66,510 |
Iowa | $70,130 |
Kansas | $59,190 |
Kentucky | $58,350 |
Louisiana | $61,120 |
Maine | $57,410 |
Maryland | $94,490 |
Massachusetts | $85,820 |
Michigan | $68,960 |
Minnesota | $74,970 |
Mississippi | $45,940 |
Missouri | $73,390 |
Montana | $66,710 |
Nebraska | $73,220 |
Nevada | $95,080 |
New Hampshire | $70,420 |
New Jersey | $115,590 |
New Mexico | $59,360 |
New York | $107,730 |
North Carolina | $61,070 |
North Dakota | $70,560 |
Ohio | $71,050 |
Oklahoma | $75,440 |
Oregon | $85,450 |
Pennsylvania | $75,910 |
Rhode Island | $68,550 |
South Carolina | $57,460 |
South Dakota | $72,020 |
Tennessee | $56,430 |
Texas | $76,800 |
Utah | $68,040 |
Vermont | $64,890 |
Virginia | $83,440 |
Washington | $102,430 |
West Virginia | $57,940 |
Wisconsin | $73,610 |
Wyoming | $74,050 |
What Tools & Technology do Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- ESRI ArcView
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Mapping software
- Fire incident reporting systems
- FlamMap
- FARSITE
- BehavePlus
Becoming a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor
Learn what Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor?
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References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.