State Firefighter III

• Oversee and coordinate operations at the scenes of fires by determining procedures to be followed and assigning duties to others to ensure rapid suppression of fires and to prevent their spreads.

• Patrol state forests, woodlands and other properties through on-site inspection and remote observation to detect fire and violations of fire, slash and environmental laws and regulations.

• Participate, implement and coordinate fuels mitigation practices.

• Promote safety and risk management practices.

• Provide fire prevention and firefighting information and technical assistance by participating in conferences, distributing materials and information, recommending equipment to be purchased, providing technical advice on firefighting techniques, providing advice on establishing public information programs and preparing training materials for fire manuals to increase the ability of other firefighters it respond properly to fire emergencies.

• Testify as witnesses in court hearings to prosecute violators of state fire laws.

• Perform related administrative functions such as obtaining supplies, maintaining accurate records, distributing supplies to other regions, planning daily work schedules to ensure 24-hour per day coverage, attending meetings, training sessions and seminars, reviewing reports and evaluating subordinates’ performance. Conducts employee orientation.

• Coordinate operations at the scene of a wildfire or other incident as appropriate through proper chain of command. Direct non-agency personnel and resources as determined by complexity of incident and State Firefighter IV or other employee of a higher grade. Assist with inter-agency operations, including air, fire mapping, and fire behavior assessment.

• Investigate fires through visual inspection of sites and examination of physical evidence to gather information to be used in determining cause, to determine whether legal violations were responsible for the origin or spread of fires and to determine corrective action needed to avoid recurrence.

• Enforce the Forest Cutting Practice Law, Open Burn Fire Law, and other environmental laws, rules, and department/agency regulations.

• Determine daily fire danger rating.

• Approve schedules for direct reporting staff.

• Recommend and initiate personnel actions, such as hiring and promotions. Provide documentation regarding issues requiring disciplinary review.

• Provide direct supervision over, assign work to, and review the performance of State Firefighter I and II and/or other employees of a lower grade.

• incumbents work under exposure to the hazards associated with fires and hazardous chemicals. Incumbents work outdoors in varying terrain. Incumbents may be exposed to all kinds of weather and environmental and biological hazards (e.g. smoke, diesel fumes, ticks, snags, etc.). Incumbents may work in isolated areas for considerable lengths of time, including in enclosed spaces up to 100 feet in the air (i.e. fire towers). The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be noisy. Incumbents may be required to work at emergency incidents for extended hours, nights, weekends or holidays and are subject to call 24 hours a day. Incumbents may be required to travel and may be exposed to traffic and other roadway or travel-related hazards.

• incumbents are required to climb a ladder of up to 35 feet and climb open stairways of up to 100 feet. Incumbents are required to perform physically demanding work with hand tools, power tools and saws, and brush cutting power equipment. Incumbents are required to be able to walk a distance of two miles while carrying a pack of 25 pounds. Incumbents may be required to lift, carry, push or pull up to 100 pounds with or without assistance and with or without the use of devices and/or equipment to assist in the lifting effort. Work assignments may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation to a known disability.

Applicants must have (A) at least two (2) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience in firefighting work, (B) have successfully completed the courses below and (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below

• Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS 100 (Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA))

• An Introduction to the National Incident Management System, IS-700 (FEMA)

• Basic Wildland Firefighter Training, S-130 (National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG))

• Introduction to Wildfire Behavior, S-190 (NWCG)

• Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, L-180 (NWCG)

• Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior, S-290 (NWCG)

Incumbents are required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.

An Associate's degree or higher with a major in fire sciences or other related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!