Snake River Valley Wildland Firefighter

The BLM EEO Office is very excited and pleased to inform all our community partners that our BLM Vale District Office (VDO) is currently looking to recruit 15 youth, between the ages of 18 to 25, for summer employment, from June 1, 2010 to August/September 2010, for the position of Standby Fire Fighters. The VDO wants to have a crew of some 15 members out of the Portland Oregon area to be ready upon two hours of being called to be available to be dispatched during the fire season of 2010 (June -
August/September) anywhere across the country.

Once the crew is called to assemble for fire fighting, they are expected to be at a predetermined site here in Portland to be picked-up within two hours of the call. Transportation to worksite will be provided, along with
food, lodging and equipment at no cost. The only requirement is that
applicants purchase their own boots; boots must be a minimum of 8-inch high, lace type exterior leather work boots with Vibram-type, melt-resistant soles. The 8-inch height requirement is measured from the bottom of the heel to the top of the boot.

Applicants must be made aware that they will probably be in remote areas where there might not be any cell phone coverage, living quarters at times might be in tents in the wilderness and conditions will be harsh and rugged. Also, crew members may be subject to random drug testing.

The applicants must be 18 years old by June 1, 2010, must present the appropriate legal documents (birth certificate, social security number and/or resident alien card, etc.) and pass the physical fitness test, a three mile hike over flat ground in 45 minutes or less, while carrying a 45 pound pack. We highly encourage you to motivate women who are interested to apply.

Even though this 15-member crew out of Portland will be on standby during the summer months of 2010, this is an excellent opportunity for youth who would like to consider future employment with not only the BLM fire fighting program but with other fire fighting organizations (Federal and
State) and other positions within the BLM. Even if by some remote chance they are not called into action they will have at least received Basic Wildland Fire Training at no cost.

Fire fighting is a serious and dangerous job where team work, maturity, flexibility and being able to work with others are only some of the few qualities we look for in an applicant. Therefore, we ask that you carefully screen some of the youth who are interested in applying.

All that is required for possible consideration at this time is that the interested parties submit their resume to our EEO Office by no-later than February 10, 2010, after which selecting officials plan to hold a group meeting with the applicants they are interested in here at our BLM office in Portalnd to discuss the next phase and the physical fitness test, which will be held sometime in April/May, in Portland.

Please inform the applicants that submission of a resume does not guarantee employment.

Please review the brochure below and keep in mind the dates are pretty much the same with the exception of the year (2009 should be 2010):

For a fire recruitment brochure or if you have any questions please call Ernesto Jaquez at 503-808-6195 or Bennye' Jackson at 503-808-6330.