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Career Details :: Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Description
Enforce fire regulations and inspect for forest fire hazards. Report forest fires and weather conditions.
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Tasks
- Inspects forest tracts and logging areas for fire hazards, such as accumulated wastes, mishandling of combustibles, or defective exhaust systems.
- Locates forest fires on area map, using azimuth sighter and known landmarks.
- Relays messages relative to emergencies, accidents, location of crew and personnel, weather forecasts, and fire hazard conditions.
- Patrols and maintains surveillance, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena.
- Inspects camp sites to ensure camper compliance with forest use regulations.
- Estimates size and characteristics of fire and reports findings to base camp by radio or telephone.
- Gives directives and instructions regarding sanitation, fire prevention, violation corrections, and related forest regulations.
- Examines and inventories fire-fighting equipment, such as axes, fire hoses, shovels, pumps, buckets, and fire extinguishers, to determine amount and condition.
- Gives directions to crew on fire line during forest fire.
- Extinguishes smaller fires with portable extinguisher, shovel, and ax.
- Maintains records and logbooks.
- Directs maintenance and repair of fire-fighting equipment and requisitions new equipment.
- Restricts public access and recreational use of forest lands during critical fire season.
- Observes instruments and reports meteorological data, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and velocity, and types of cloud formations.
Related Careers
- Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors
- Forest Firefighters
- Immigration and Customs Inspectors
- Municipal Firefighters
- Security Guards
- Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Material
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Responsible for Others' Health & Safety
- Consequence of Error
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Frustrating Circumstances
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Science |  [ add ] |
| Fire Administration Management | [ add ] |
| Fire Protection Administration/Technology | [ add ] |
| Fire Science | [ add ] |
| Fire Science/Public Safety | [ add ] |
| Fire Services Administration | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.