Even though wildfires aren’t as common in Arizona as in California, they still occur here. No matter what state you live in, wildfires don’t happen often enough to require fire departments that are solely responsible for taking them out. Instead, each level of government can award groups with wildland firefighting contracts.
These parties are the ones that people call in to help when a wildfire occurs. If you would like to be one of these groups, use this list of what you need to become a wildland fire contractor to learn how.
Go Through the Training
Just because you’ve been fighting domestic fires for years doesn’t mean that you can simply hop into the wildland division. You need to go through specific training to become a wildland firefighter.
One such training is the Pack Test. Unlike house fires, wildfires cover a huge amount of ground, which means you’ll be almost constantly on the move with a heavy pack. If you can’t handle that, you won’t be effective on the front line. Only after you’ve received the minimal amount of wildland fire training will governments even start to consider you as a choice for a contractor.
Gain Some Knowledge
Of course, passing a few tests is only the beginning. If you really want to be in the running, you’ll need to gain some experience. Try to find another wildland contractor that you can work under and gain some knowledge of the industry through. If you’re upfront with them about your intentions, they’ll likely help you learn the dos and don’ts of the contractor gig.
Acquire the Proper Equipment
Once you’ve learned everything you can, it’s time to get the proper equipment. Wildland firefighters use certain gear that normal teams would never need, so be sure to get everything the job requires. Once you have all of your gear, you must have it inspected by a third party to ensure that it meets the National Wildfire Coordination Group’s standards for firefighting gear.
File for the Contract
After you’ve followed all the steps toward becoming a wildland fire contractor, it’s time to officially file for the contract. You can do this with the local, regional, state, or even federal government. Even if you’ve done everything on this list of what you need to become a wildland fire contractor, that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to receive the contract.
Wildland firefighters aren’t in high demand. However, if you prove that your wildland fire contractor material, the day will come when the government enlists your services to help protect your community.