These seasonal positions are represented by Service Employees International Union.

The statewide Protection From Fire Program’s main purpose is to protect 15.8 million acres (24,900 square miles) of private and public forestland from fire. The acreage protected includes 3.5 million acres of ´wildland-urban interface´, which are forest lands with residences and other structures within the reach of wildfire in that area. This is done through a complete and coordinated system of fire prevention, suppression and fuels management.

John Day Office – John Day Office can be reached at PO Box 546/415 Patterson Bridge Rd., John Day, Oregon, 97845, (541) 575-1139.  Fire Season typically runs June-October with a 0900-1800 work day.  Employee must be ready to work at the beginning of scheduled work shift and fit for duty. Employees should bring a lunch to work each day and be able to respond to fire emergencies after hours, on holiday’s and weekends.  Employees must be able to respond within 30 minutes for after hour calls. 

Note:  Work boots (minimum 8″ high leather boots with vibram sole) are required by employee.  COD has a uniform policy, uniforms will be provided and worn.

To view a map of Central Oregon, including the John Day office along with its surrounding offices please click here.

Suppression: 

• Perform in fire pre-suppression/suppression duties including fire training and project work as directed.
• Assist in management of standard category helicopter as helicopter crew member.
• Conduct pilot and passenger briefings, review daily helicopter load calculations, verify aircraft flight times and resource orders as directed by helicopter manager.
• Manage helispots, build cargo nets as directed.
• May perform as incident commander or support incident within ICS position.
• Operates and maintains firefighting vehicles and in support of wildfire suppression.
• Performs weather observations as assigned and have an intermediate understanding of fire behavior and a basic understanding of the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS).
• Performs wildland fighting activities, locates fires using maps, Global Position System (GPS), Digital Mapping such as Avenza, and compass.
• Participate in contingency move-up that could involve travel for periods up to 21 days.

Maintenance:

• Responsible for vehicle maintenance activities such as: fire readiness, daily safety inspections, fluid checks, wash and wax, fire engine inventories, and minor repairs as assigned.
• Oversees/Performs equipment maintenance by cleaning saws, pumps, and mowers; cleaning, inspecting, and sharpening hand tools such as Pulaski, shovel, and hazel hoe; cleaning and inspection of fire fighting equipment such as hose, appliances, helicopter support equipment and personal protective equipment.
• Identifies, plans, and performs landscape activities including but not limited to mowing, edging, weeding, watering, pruning, spreading bark or rock using hand tools and power equipment.
• Oversees/Performs building maintenance activities including but not limited to; minor repairs, roofing, painting, concrete work, and custodial duties.
• Responsible for completion or oversight of individual projects as assigned.

Vehicle Operation: 

• Operates department vehicles including cars, trucks, cache vans, atv’s, and fire engines as needed.  Possible relief operator of fire engines in support of fire suppression activities.

Because the Department’s highest priority work is a forest fire emergency, this position may be utilized during those emergencies to provide assistance in a variety of ways.  That assistance may be directly aiding the emergency effort in the field or at the Salem headquarters.  It also may be in providing backup to fill in for another position that is being used in direct aid to the emergency, or it may be in performing an essential function in some capacity either within this Program or elsewhere in Salem or in the field.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Employee is expected to work in a safe and efficient manner, including reporting to work for scheduled shift with all personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Required to drive wildland fire engines obeying all traffic laws and drives on steep narrow forest roads.
• Required to work various shifts including holidays, nights, weekends, and long hours on short notice.
• Assignments to emergency incidents may require employee to be away from duty station for up to 21 days.
• Occasionally required to work under adverse conditions such as noise, smoke, heat, rough terrain, dust, inclement weather and exposure to poison oak, bees and poisonous snakes.
• Requires occasional exposure to heavy equipment operations, aircraft, hazards of burning and/or falling material, and chemical and biological pesticides.
• This position may be assigned to ride in rotary or fixed wing aircraft.
• Employee is required to have the ability to hike long distances while carrying 50-60 pounds of equipment.

To improve communication with all applicants the State of Oregon requires an e-mail address be provided on all applications.  If you do not currently have an e-mail address and do not know where to go to get one, please refer to our Applicant Frequently Asked Questions web page to view several links to internet providers where you can get a free e-mail account. The State of Oregon does not endorse any particular provider.

To ensure clear communication, please unfilter emails from neogov.com and governmentjobs.com.

Please note: The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement.  Pay and benefits on all job announcements may change without further notice.

If you require an alternate format in order to complete the employment process, you may call ODF Human Resources at 503-945-7200.

Only complete applications will be considered. Your answers to the supplemental questions must be reflected in the work experience section of your application. Be sure to answer all supplemental questions and attach all required documents. Responses to the supplemental questions will determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, any special qualifications and/or desired attributes for the position. Do not submit a resume in place of completing the Supplemental Questionnaire or the Work Experience section of the application.

Qualified applicants whose responses most closely match the requirements for this position will be invited to interview. Transcripts must be submitted to receive credit for education coursework at the time of application.

Veterans – If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the minimum qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score. To receive veterans’ preference points you MUST attach to your electronic application the following required documentation:

• A copy of the DD214/215 for the five (5) point preference;
• OR A copy of the DD214/215; AND a veteran’s disability preference letter from the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the ten (10) point preference.

For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org, and select veterans’ preference.

PLEASE NOTE: The Oregon Department of Forestry does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete U.S. Department of Homeland Security form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.