The Plumas National Forest, Beckwourth Ranger District, has the following vacancies currently open:

•	GS-462-05 Senior Firefighter					5 positions
•	GS-462-06 Assistant Fire Engine Operator			2 positions
•	GS-462-06 Hand Crew Squad Boss				1 positions
•	GS-462-06 Prevention Technician 				1 position
•	GS-462-07 Fire Engine Operator				1 position
•	GS-462-08 Fire Engine Captain				1 position
•	GS-462-07 Fuels Technician					2 positions

The tours of duty for these positions are as follows:

•	GS-05	13/13
•	GS-06	18/8
•	GS-07	26/0
•	GS-08	26/0

The positions will be located at the following stations on the Plumas National Forest:

•	Laufman Work Center, Milford, CA
•	Mohawk Ranger Station, Blairsden, CA 
•	Frenchman Work Center, Chilcoot, CA

Description of the duties associated with these positions:

•	Senior Firefighter:

The incumbent serves on a fire crew as a senior crew member within the fire management organization.  The purpose of the position is wildland fire suppression/management/control as a specialized firefighter on an engine or hand crew with responsibility for the operation and maintenance of specialized tools or equipment.  Duties may involve fire prevention, patrol, detection, or prescribed burning.  The incumbent may be assigned for varying periods of time into one or more types of positions within the wildfire program where the individual’s specialized skills are required.  Incumbent may be required to operate a government owned/or leased motor vehicle, therefore, incumbent must possess a valid State Driver’s License.                                                       

•	Assistant Fire Engine Operator:

As assistant to the Fire Engine Operator, serves as working leader of an engine crew of up to 7 firefighters on small and large fires. Trains by demonstrating skills in use of hand and power tools, hoses, chemical, and hydraulic systems. Observes, corrects, and evaluates crew skills. Explains fire behavior characteristics, safety regulations, and work procedures. Assigns work to individuals to best utilize skill and balance workload, checks on progress, corrects unsafe or incorrect procedures, checks work for adequacy, answers procedural questions of crew, maintains work records, insures that tools and equipment are available, resolves minor complaints, and insures that crew needs are met. As lead technician, serves as the alternate to the Fire Engine Operator, up to 80% of  the time. Serves as the alternate driver. Personally performs or directs others in starting pump engine, priming pump, adjusting engine speed and pump valves, laying hose, and using appropriate nozzles and nozzle adjustment. Accomplishes emergency repairs as necessary to permit continued use of equipment. Inspects, checks, serves and adjusts the pump, hose lays, tank and reels in order to have equipment always ready for immediate emergency use. 

•	Hand Crew Squad Boss:

The incumbent serves as an Squad Boss on a 20-person hand crew. Performs and leads crew in fire prevention, preparedness, detection, wildland fire suppression, resource rehabilitation, mobilization (step-up), prescribed fire, aviation operations, and training programs.  Serves as a working leader of a hand crew. Instructs crewmembers in specific tasks and techniques and conducts on-the-job training.  Instructs and directs technicians in wildfire fighting and fire program support operations. Makes work assignments; schedules personnel; provides instructions or training; monitors work in progress; ensures equipment and materials are available; resolves problems encountered and reports to the supervisor about work, personnel and problems. Directs and performs wildland fire suppression efforts in initial attack.  May serve as driver, which requires a Commercial Driver’s License.  Incumbent is required to operate a government owned or leased motor vehicle, therefore, a valid state driver’s license is required.                               

•	Prevention Technician:

This position serves as a fire prevention technician. Advises responsible parties of hazards and other unsatisfactory conditions and of other governing laws or regulations. Inspects campgrounds, buildings and other improvements, resorts, construction projects, etc., located on Government and private land within the forest area, advises responsible parties of hazards or other unsatisfactory conditions and of governing laws or regulations. Documents findings, issues citations as necessary, and appears in court as Government witness when required. Gives formal talks and informally provides information through personal contacts on fire prevention and on laws, rules, and regulations which govern travel within, and use of, the National Forests. Prepares routine day-to-day work plans.  Issues campfire, burning, welding, and blasting permits. Answers general recreation questions for forest users. May check campsites to determine if campers have permits, etc. When not performing fire prevention duties, performs unskilled and semiskilled work in support of various resource        
	management activities.                                                        

•	Fire Engine Operator:

Serves as a full assistant to the supervisor of a Type III Fire Engine Module. Provides leadership in fire suppression, pre-suppression and wild land urban interface/intermix situations. Responsible for driving and operating the engine in responding to wild land fires and other all risk activities. In the absence of the Engine Captain, may serve as initial attach Incident Commander. With the Engine Captain, jointly develops and implements training programs (mandatory, formal and informal) to comply with policy and regulations. Develops and implements a comprehensive physical training program. Manages assigned property and may serve as Station Manager by procuring, maintaining and inventorying tools and equipment. 

•	Fire Engine Captain

 This position serves as the Captain of a Type III Fire Engine Module. The primary responsibility of the incumbent is the leadership of an effective fire suppression resource. The incumbent is responsible for directing a module of a 5 to 7 person Engine Crew. The incumbent is responsible for technical decisions involving defining and implementing appropriate strategy and tactics; taking action on incidents involving wildland urban interface/intermix situations, or other incidents which may require other specialized training; may serves as an initial attack incident commander on fires and wildland urban interface/intermix situations; independently or jointly plans and implements field projects including setting priorities, identifying objectives, coordinating resources, obtaining vehicles, supplies and equipment, developing job hazard analysis, and conducting job skill training; works with other resource managers in the development and implementation of prescribed burn plans; implements a comprehensive physical training program to enhance the ability of crewmembers to perform the required arduous firefighting duties; and manages assigned property.   

•	Fuels Technician
This positions serves as the assistant to the Fuels Battalion at the Mohawk Ranger Station. The incumbent to this position performs field evaluations of areas targeted for prescribed burns and other forms of fuels management. The incumbent will also prepare prescribed fire burn plans, utilizing fire behavior prediction systems and tools, word processors, spreadsheets, GIS programs, and other tools and resources. The incumbent will assist in prescribed fire operations, providing interagency contacts and notifications, acting as burn boss, ignition boss, holding boss, etc. During the fire season, the incumbent to one of these fuel tech positions will act in an initial attack capacity, and will respond with a Forest Service dozer in the capacity of dozer swamper and/or dozer boss. May respond to off-unit incidents with the dozer.

 
                                                                              
Drug testing notice:

In accordance with Executive Order 12564, applicants selected for this position may be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is a drug-testing designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use. This is primarily for those persons who will be fire engine operators or crew carrier drivers.                                                                         

Pack test notice:                                                                              

The incumbents to these positions are required to take and pass a Work Capacity Test. This consists of a three mile hike, within 45 minutes, carrying 45 pounds. Further information about this test can be found at www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs .

Area description:

The Plumas is a transition Forest ranging from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the south to the Cascades in the north, the Sacramento Valley uplands in the west to the Great Basin high desert in the east. Fuel types range from mixed conifer fuel type to high elevation Red Fir to eastside pine. Elevations range from 3000 feet to 8000 feet. The Plumas National Forest encompasses over a million acres of tree covered mountains, filled with hundreds of high alpine lakes and thousands of miles of clear running streams. Within an easy half day or less drive are Lake Tahoe, Reno, Sacramento, Redding, Chico, Lake Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a vast variety of activities and opportunities. Popular activities within Plumas County and the Plumas National Forest include hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, boating and white water rafting, cross county skiing and snowmobiling.

More information about the forest can be found on the Plumas National Forest website.
www.r5.fs.fed.us/plumas/ 

The Forest averages about 250 wildfires per year and modules respond to 25-50 incidents per year. The Plumas National Forest fire management team takes pride in it’s high level of professionalism.

Community information:

Quincy:

The community of Quincy is the Plumas County seat and has a population of approximately 5,000. Quincy is located at an elevation of 3400 feet in a small mountain valley in the northeastern Sierra Nevada. Area vegetation is typically mixed conifer. Year-round county population is approximately 25,000. Local community services include: a hospital, a limited service airport, a public library, a theatre, a junior college, a high school, two public elementary schools, one private elementary school, a variety of churches, two supermarkets, a bowling alley, a public pool, a health club, and numerous restaurants and motels.

Susanville:

The nearest sizeable community to the Laufman Work Center is Susanville. Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada's east side, Susanville is a full service community of about 15,000 with a larger population in the surrounding Lassen County. The largest community in north-eastern California, it offers a hospital, a number of independent school districts, churches representing most denominations, a local community college, and a strong sense of community. The city of Reno, Nevada is a short 90 miles to the south, and both Chico and Redding, sizeable central valley communities, are within two hours drive. Real estate values vary greatly, with prices for a single family house ranging from $60,000 to $200,000+. Susanville is the gateway to a host of recreational opportunities. National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands are minutes away, offering fishing, hunting, off-roading, mountain-biking, camping, water related sports, wildlife watching, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, wilderness adventures, and more. The Lassen Volcanic National Park is about an hour away and features the 10,000 foot Lassen Peak and other volcanic features. San Francisco, Sacramento, the California coast, Lake Tahoe, are all within a half day drive.

Blairsden/Graeagle/Portola:

The community of Blairsden/Graeagle is located 60 miles west of Reno, NV, and 20 miles east of Quincy at an elevation of approximately 4400 feet. Local community services include a market, hardware store, bakery, deli, pizza parlor, two full service gas stations, physicians clinic, dental office, post office, and several restaurants and motels. There are four 18-hole championship and two 9-hole golf courses within five miles of the office. Johnsville Ski Area is a local historic downhill ski area which hosts two long board racing events per year as well as public downhill skiing. Rentals for a two bedroom /two bath condominium start around $1000 per month and housing costs for a three bedroom/two bath start around $180,000. Since housing is expensive in the Blairsden/Graeagle area many employees live in Portola or Quincy. The community of Portola (ten miles east of Blairsden/Graeagle) has a population of 2,000 with services including a hospital with physician's clinic, a public library, one elementary school, one middle school, one high school, a variety of churches, a supermarket, a bowling alley, a health club, and several restaurants and motels. Rentals for a two bedroom /one bath start around $600 per month and housing costs for a three bedroom/two bath start around $120,000. 

Reno:

The nearest town to the Frenchman Work Center is Chilcoot, about 15 miles away. This is a small community, and several people working at this location choose to live in Reno, Nevada. Reno, NV is about one hour from the Blairsden/Graeagle area, and about 40 minutes from the Frenchman Work Center. Reno offers all the amenities of a large city. Major hospitals, university, shopping centers, entertainment, and job opportunities are just some of what Reno has to offer. The Blairsden/Graeagle, Portola, and Quincy communities offer a variety of cultural events, and year-round sporting activities are available for all ages in a picturesque mountain setting. The areas have four seasons with warm days/cool nights in the summer and periodic snow storms in the winter. Average annual precipitation is 35 to 40 inches. Within an easy half day or less drive are Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Redding, Chico, Lake Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a vast variety of activities and opportunities.

How to apply:

The vacancy announcements will appear on the Office of Personnel Management’s USAJOBS website:

www.usajobs.opm.gov

The process of applying will take place on the  AVUE Digital Services website:

www.avuedigitalservices.com/usfs/applicant.html

If you are interested in applying for any of these positions, you can access the AVUE website and register there; however you will have to wait until the positions are actually announced on USAJOBS prior to completing your application process.

If you have any further questions about these positions or the application process, please call one of the following Beckwourth Ranger District fire management personnel:

•	Dan White, District Fire Management Officer				530.836.7130
dwhite04@fs.fed.us

•	Rich Carmichael, Assistant District Fire Management Officer		530.836.7133
rcarmichael@fs.fed.us

•	Rogers Wright, Assistant District Fire Management Officer 		530.253.2224
rfwright@fs.fed.us 	

•	Brian Mattox, Hand Crew Superintendent (Hand crew positions)	530.253.3575
bmattox@fs.fed.us

•	Chris Grigg, Engine Captain (Mohawk/Frenchman engine positions)	530.836.7138
cgrigg@fs.fed.us

•	Randy Owings, Engine Captain (Laufman engine positions)		530.253.1268
rowings@fs.fed.us
http://rowings.tripod.com (Engine 15 website)

•	Dave Molina, Engine Captain (Laufman Engine 14 positions)              530.253.2225
dmolina@fs.fed.us

We look forward to hearing from you!