"The O*NET Program is the nation's primary source of occupational information. Valid data are essential to understanding the rapidly changing nature of work and how it impacts the workforce and U.S. economy.
Central to the project is the O*NET database, containing hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors on almost 1,000 occupations covering the entire U.S. economy. The database, which is available to the public at no cost, is continually updated from input by a broad range of workers in each occupation."
How many persons in the United States are employed as firefighters? Will there be growth, retraction, or a leveling off in the number of firefighter positions? What's the median salary for a firefighter in my geographic area. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) studies these types of labor questions and gathers the data into very understandable formats.
Visit the BLS site to find answers to:
"Fire Fighter I" is a seasonal, temporary classification used by CAL FIRE. The Fire Fighter I application period occurs in November and hiring usually occurs between March and June, depending upon the year's fire and weather conditions. The minimum qualification to participate in the Fire Fighter I Classification is that you must be 18 years of age at the time of appointment to a Fire Fighter I position."
Each year various Bureaus within the Department of the Interior seek out employees who will fill the hundreds of seasonal wildlands firefighter positions. These jobs are listed on USAJOBS.GOV.
For example, The US Fish and Wildlife Service annually recruits for the Position Title Wildland Firefighter (Range/Forestry Aid/Technician), GS-03 to 05 Seasonal US Fish and Wildlife Service.
"A Wildland Firefighter (GS-03) Range/Forestry Aid) performs assignments as a wildland firefighter crew member in developing a working knowledge of fire suppression and fuels management techniques, practices, and terminology; may assist in more specialized assignments such as backfire and burnout, mobile and stationary engine attack; construction of helispots, helitack operations, and performing hover hookups.
The US Forest Service also recruits wildlands firefighters. Seasonal jobs in firefighting include working on a local unit handcrew, on a helitak/helirappeling crew, a HotShot Crew, as a smokejumper, or on an engine crew.
Fill out a job interest card for firefighter openings with the East Bar Regional Parks District.
Use Films on Demand to view Modern Marvels: Firefighting! Extreme Conditions from A&E Television. "This episode of Modern Marvels examines the most extreme raging fires and the firefighters who tame them. The program features interviews with a World War II firefighter who helped contain the London's blitz fire. We also meet "Hell Fighters" who fight raging oil wel fires, and "Smoke jumpers" who parachute into forest fires. Firefighting: Extreme Conditions also takes a look at how NASA guards against the very real risk of a fire aboard a space vessel. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)."