Life As a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor
Career Description Supervise fire fighters who control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land.
What Do Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Monitor prescribed burns to ensure that they are conducted safely and effectively.
- Perform administrative duties, such as compiling and maintaining records, completing forms, preparing reports, or composing correspondence.
- Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.
- 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.
- Educate the public about forest fire prevention by participating in activities such as exhibits or presentations or by distributing promotional materials.
- Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities.
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Skills Needed to be a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor
When polled, Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Assistant Unit Forester
- Dispatch Lead
- Prevention Coordinator
- Incident Commander
- Damage Prevention Coordinator
Is There Going to be Demand for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors?
There were about 59,100 jobs for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Salary for a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor
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 do Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors:
- 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
- BehavePlus
- FARSITE
- FlamMap
How do I Become a Forest Fire Fighting & Prevention Supervisor?
Learn what Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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