Common Questions: What Questions Should I Ask When I'm Being Interviewed For A Wildand Firefighter Position?
WHAT SHOULD I ASK DURING A WILDLAND FIRE JOB INTERVIEW?
It’s hard to know what you’re getting into sometimes with a new job or even just a new place that you’ve never been. Google can only help so much. These are questions I like to ask to get a better idea of what the crew and area are like before I commit to a new job.
Better to ask questions first and make sure the position is a good fit for you
Lots of new wildland firefighters will need housing. So make sure to ask:
Is government housing available? If not are there other options available? (Sometimes permanent employees rent out rooms to seasonals, etc.) Where is the housing in relation to where I show up for work? When I was seasonal, one place I worked at I didn't think to ask and the only available government housing was a 45 minute drive one way at another work station on the forest. That was annoying to deal with until I found other housing in town. It's also good to ask if you'll be sharing a room with someone else.
Here are some other questions that will give you a good idea of what the crew/area are like:
What's your PT program and fitness expectations coming into the season? This will vary crew to crew and it's nice to know if one crew is really into running or hiking so you can get prepared and show up in killer shape and avoid injuries.
Do you have lots of initial attack fires? Do you travel off forest for assignments? Asking straight up how much overtime the crew makes on average each season is off-putting, but these questions will let you get an idea of how busy you'll be/ how much fire you'll see/ how much money you'll make. Three to four 14 day rolls off forest is pretty average for a lot of crews/engines. Seven or more is common for hotshot crews.
Do you have a prescribed fire program? Prescribed burns are common way for a lot of forests to start fire season. It’s a great way to get training and fire experience in a reasonably controlled setting.
When do you typically start and end for the season? Helpful for planning purposes if you have a winter job or school.
Does your crew do lots of formal and informal training? Good training is HUGE! It would be a red flag to me if they didn't have a solid answer.
What can I do to be best prepared for this position before I start the season? Maybe they will recommend online trainings or subjects to brush up on.
What is the town and surrounding area like? Especially if it's super small you may not have a large grocery store close and that's always good to know in advance.
Anything else that would be helpful to know before I arrive?
Let me know what I missed that you would want to know.