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Fire Hand Crew Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

City of Ukiah, CA

Fire-Fuels Crew Member

Ukiah, CA · On-site

$49K - $63K/yr

The Fire-Fuels Crew Member is distinguished from the Firefighter series in that the latter has a ... Inspect, clean, and maintain Authority-owned chainsaws, firefighting hand tools, and vehicles.

City of Ukiah

Fire-Fuels Crew Member

Ukiah, CA · On-site

$49K - $63K/yr

The Fire-Fuels Crew Member is distinguished from the Firefighter series in that the latter has a ... Inspect, clean, and maintain Authority-owned chainsaws, firefighting hand tools, and vehicles.

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Fire Hand Crew information

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How much do fire hand crew jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for fire hand crew in California is $18.07, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $18.99 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a fire hand crew?

Fire Hand Crews are specialized teams of wildland firefighters trained to suppress and manage wildfires. They perform physically demanding tasks such as constructing fire lines, clearing vegetation, and conducting controlled burns to contain and extinguish fires. These crews typically work in remote, rugged areas and are essential for wildfire suppression and forest management. Members must be highly trained, physically fit, and able to work long hours under challenging conditions.

What are some common challenges faced by members of a fire hand crew, and how are they typically addressed on the job?

Fire Hand Crew members often face physically demanding conditions, long shifts, and exposure to extreme heat and smoke while working in remote locations. Teamwork and communication are crucial to ensure safety and efficiency, especially when constructing fire lines or conducting controlled burns. To address these challenges, crews participate in rigorous training, adhere to strict safety protocols, and rely on strong leadership and mutual support. Regular briefings and debriefings help crews adapt to changing fire behavior and terrain, ensuring both effectiveness and safety in the field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fire hand crew member, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fire Hand Crew member, you need strong physical fitness, knowledge of wildfire behavior, basic firefighting training, and often certification such as the NWCG Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2). Familiarity with hand tools, chainsaws, fire shelters, and communication systems like radios is typically required. Teamwork, resilience, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are crucial soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure safety, effective wildfire suppression, and efficient collaboration during high-stress and physically demanding situations.

What is the difference between Fire Hand Crew vs Firefighter?

AspectFire Hand CrewFirefighter
CertificationsBasic wildfire safety and equipment trainingAdvanced firefighting certifications, EMT/paramedic licenses often required
Work EnvironmentWildland fire zones, often remote and ruggedBoth wildland and structural fire scenes, including urban areas
Employer & Industry UsageFederal, state, and local agencies focusing on wildfire suppressionFire departments, emergency services, and wildfire agencies

Fire Hand Crews primarily focus on wildfire suppression in remote, rugged areas with basic firefighting skills. Firefighters have broader roles, including structural fire response and advanced medical aid. While both roles work in fire environments, firefighters typically require more certifications and handle a wider range of emergencies.

What do fire hand crew firefighters do?

Fire hand crew firefighters are trained personnel responsible for constructing, maintaining, and suppressing wildfires. They perform tasks such as creating firebreaks, clearing brush, and using tools like shovels, chainsaws, and drip torches, often working in challenging outdoor environments and requiring physical fitness and safety certifications.

What are popular job titles related to Fire Hand Crew jobs in California?

For Fire Hand Crew jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Fire Hand Crew jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Fire Hand Crew jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Fire Hand Crew jobs?

Cities in California with the most Fire Hand Crew job openings:

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Infographic showing various Fire Hand Crew job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $37,583 per year, or $18.1 per hour.

Fire & Fuels Mentor

Lakeport, CA • On-site

Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance
See more jobs at Tribal EcoRestoration Allianceexternal

$30 - $58/hr

Temporary

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT:

Fire & Fuels Mentor


POSTING DATE: July 17, 2026


POSITION SUMMARY:

Multiple flexible and on-call temporary positions for NWCG qualified personnel (FFT1+) to provide mentorship and hands-on training to Lake Cal-TREX participants and TERA's intertribal hand crew.


ORGANIZATIONAL VISION

The Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA) is a community-based, intertribal nonprofit organization that works to revitalize ecology, economy, and culture through Indigenous-led stewardship.
The mission of TERA, founded in 2019, is to cultivate land stewardship, livelihood, and leadership skills that weave collaborative relationships between Tribal members and the community at large for the benefit of all lands and beings. Our program goals are to:

  • Strengthen ties to land and culture
  • Connect tribal members with meaningful livelihoods and culturally relevant work in their ancestral territories
  • Regenerate local ecology of the North Coast Ranges
  • Build capacity for native voices to play a central role in land stewardship

TERA is a young organization in a dynamic growth phase, and building a team of professionals who are deeply committed to TERA's vision.


ABOUT THE ROLE:

TERA is seeking to hire multiple NWCG qualified Fire & Fuels Mentors for the 2026-27 Lake Cal-TREX. Fire & Fuels Mentors will work on a flexible schedule based on candidate availability to provide mentorship and hands-on training to TERA's full-time intertribal stewardship crew, TERA's On-the-Job Training participants, and other participants in the Lake Cal-TREX. Training and mentorship will focus on the skill areas of fuels reduction treatments, burn unit preparation, and burn operations. Fire & Fuels Mentors will regularly serve in leadership roles on Lake Cal-TREX burns.


The Lake Cal-TREX is an EcoCultural Fire Training Exchange led by TERA in partnership with Tribes, agencies, and community organizations. The Lake Cal-TREX integrates EcoCultural Fire training, a collaborative burning season, and an on-call EcoCultural Fire Crew to build local capacity and steward land with fire in Lake County. The 2026-27 Lake Cal-TREX will run from September 2026 through June 2027, and includes NWCG Basic Firefighter/Firelighter (FFT2) and Wildland Fire Refresher (RT-130) trainings in September, two 5-day fall burn and training camps in October and November, and continued burn operations during appropriate conditions throughout our EcoCultural fire season. For more information on Lake Cal-TREX, visittribalecorestoration.org/trex.


FUNDAMENTALS:


Reports to:Stewardship & Communications Director


Supervises:None


Location: TERA operations are based at our Ecocultural Fire & Stewardship Center in Upper Lake, CA.The working location for this position is fully in person, and most days will involve work in the field at project sites throughout Lake County.


Time Commitment:The Fire & Fuels Mentor is a Temporary Employee position with a flexible time commitment, ranging from occasional work on specific burn and/or training days to multiple-week full-time assignments, depending on candidate availability.

  • Fire & Fuels Mentors must be available for at least one (ideally both) of the Lake Cal-TREX fall burn and training camps, which will take place October 19-23 and November 2-6, 2026.
  • In addition to one or both of the burn and training camps, Fire & Fuels Mentors must be available for a minimum of 20 additional work days during the 2026-27 Lake Cal-TREX season (September 2026 through June 2027). Candidates who have significant availability in October and November 2026 will be prioritized for hiring.


TERA's standard work hours are Monday-Friday from 7:30am-4pm. Burn and training days often require earlier start and/or later end times. Occasional additional evening and weekend work may be required.


Compensation and Benefits:

  • Job Type:
    Temporary Employee
  • Pay is commensurate with qualifications and experience:
    • FFT1 and FAL3: $30-35/hour
    • FAL2, RXB3, and/or CARX: $35-40/hour
    • CRWB, FIRB, and/or ENGB: $40-45/hour
    • RXB2: $45-58/hour
  • Temporary Employees are eligible for overtime pay when applicable, paid sick leave under California law, and workers' compensation coverage.
  • Paid sick leave (PSL) of 5 days or 40 hours will be granted to Temporary Employees following successful completion of a 30-day probationary period.


DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Fire & Fuels Mentors will work under the direction of the Stewardship & Communications Director, and in close coordination with the Fuels Captain and Stewardship Supervisor, to provide hands-on training and mentorship to the following groups:
    • TERA's full-time intertribal stewardship crew (currently 12 members)
    • TERA's On-the-Job Training Participants, a group of 10 graduates from TERA's summer 2026 Fire & Forestry Career Training who will be learning alongside the TERA crew from mid-September to mid-November 2026
    • Other participants in the Lake Cal-TREX
  • Fire & Fuels Mentors will provide instruction, demonstration, leadership, and feedback to support these groups in building the following skillsets:
    • Fuels reduction treatments and burn unit preparation, including chainsaw operations (felling, limbing, and bucking); use of brush cutters, mowers and string trimmers; placing and building burn piles; and creating burn unit control lines while minimizing impact to ecological and cultural resources
    • Broadcast and pile burning operations including ignitions, holding, weather fire effects monitoring, extinguishment, securement, and patrol, with a high degree of accountability and safety as well as attention to cultural and ecological goals and objectives.
    • Appropriate techniques for carrying out burn unit preparation and burn operations across a variety of Northern California ecosystems, including oak savanna, oak woodland, mixed conifer and hardwood forest, chaparral, grassland, riparian corridors, and tule wetlands
  • Fire & Fuels Mentors will be expected to regularly serve in leadership roles appropriate to their level of skill, experience, and qualifications, which may include squad lead, holding lead, firing lead, burn lead, or other leadership roles.


QUALITIES & QUALIFICATIONS:

All members of the TERA team are expected to embody the following qualities:

  • Cultural competency, humility, self-awareness, and willingness to learn
  • Commitment to working cross-culturally as a bridge builder
  • Ability to listen well, and give and receive direct, honest, and constructive feedback
  • Positive attitude, able to work independently and contribute to a high-functioning, collaborative team environment
  • Strong work ethic, reliability, accountability, and commitment to excellence
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid and often fast-paced work environment
  • Commitment to follow and enforce all TERA policies, maintain professionalism, and represent the work of TERA and Tribal communities with dignity and integrity at all times

In addition, the following are required minimum qualifications for this position:

  • 3+ years experience in wildland, prescribed and/or cultural fire, with a minimum of 60 operational days on the fireline
  • Current or previous NWCG qualification as FFT1 or higher and FAL3 or higher
  • 2+ years of hands-on work in fuels reduction and/or ecocultural stewardship, including safely and effectively operating a chainsaw in a fire and fuels context
  • 2+ years experience leading a team in fire and fuels work, workforce development, or similar field
  • Current First Aid and CPR certification (candidates who do not have a current certification may complete or renew their certification as part of onboarding as a TERA employee)

Optional but desired qualifications for this position:

  • 1+ years experience working with Tribes or Tribal communities
  • 1+ years experience with cultural burning
  • Current NWCG qualification as FEMO, FAL2, CRWB, FIRB, ENGB, RXB3 and/or RXB2
  • Current qualification as California State Prescribed-Fire Burn Boss (CARX)
  • Current or past qualification as Paramedic, EMT or Wilderness First Responder


HOW TO APPLY:

All applications must be submitted through BambooHR at https://tera.bamboohr.com/careers


Multiple openings for this position are available.


Applications will be reviewed and hiring will take place on a rolling basis beginning July 30, 2026, and continuing through September 30, 2026. This hiring period may be extended if additional Fire & Fuels Mentors are needed.


If the position is still posted on BambooHR, we are still accepting applications.

Apply