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Fire Hand Crew Jobs (NOW HIRING)

State of Nevada (NV)

FIRE CAPTAIN - ELY

Carson City, NV

$59K - $88K/yr

This position, under the supervision of the Battalion Chief acts as a supervisor of a wildland fire module/hand crew with multiple firefighters that participate in all functional areas of wildland ...

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$12

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$23

How much do fire hand crew jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for fire hand crew in the United States is $18.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some of the 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 are Fire Hand Crews?

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 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.

Can firefighters make $100,000?

Fire Hand Crew members, like other firefighters, can potentially earn $100,000 or more annually, especially with experience, overtime, and specialized skills. Salaries vary by location, department, and rank, with some experienced firefighters in high-cost areas reaching or exceeding this level through additional pay and certifications.

How much do Cal Fire hand crew members make?

Fire Hand Crew members typically earn between $15 and $25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the specific crew. Entry-level positions may start at the lower end, while experienced crew members or those with specialized skills can earn higher wages, often supplemented by overtime and hazard pay during fire seasons.

Is 30 too old to be a fireman?

Fire Hand Crew members can typically start at age 18 and often continue working into their 50s or 60s, depending on physical fitness and health. Age is less important than meeting physical requirements, passing fitness tests, and maintaining the necessary skills and certifications. Many fire departments value experience and maturity, so being 30 is generally not too old to pursue a firefighting role.

What does a fire hand crew do?

A fire hand crew is a team of trained firefighters responsible for constructing and maintaining firelines, removing vegetation, and controlling wildfires. They work in outdoor environments, often using hand tools like shovels, rakes, and chainsaws, and typically require physical fitness and wildfire suppression certifications.
More about Fire Hand Crew jobs
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Fire Hand Crew jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fire Hand Crew job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $38,082 per year, or $18.3 per hour.
Fire/Fuels Technician 1-2

Fire/Fuels Technician 1-2

Coeur d'Alene Tribe

Plummer, ID • On-site

$19.05/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Fire/Fuels Technician 1-2 (FFT2)
Department: NR/Fire-Fuels Program
Reports To: Fire/Fuels AFMO Operation/Crew Lead

INTRODUCTION:
The incumbent helps with a variety of fire/fuels management activities; such as, fire suppression, prescribed fire, mechanical fuel treatments, project monitoring, and data collection (forestry or fuels) on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation. Incumbent functions as a fire/fuels technician, performing duties with more experienced co-workers and under the supervision of the crew lead or Supervisory Technician. This position is subject to medical screening and annual physical fitness testing at the arduous level as a condition of employment.
MAJOR DUTIES:
  • Serves as a member of an engine or hand crew assigned to suppress wildland fires. Performs assignments as a wildland firefighter in developing a working knowledge of fire suppression strategies, tactics, and fuels management techniques, practices and terminology. This consists of Fireline construction, use of pumps and engines, hose lays using appropriate nozzles and nozzle adjustments in the effective use of water and additives, working in and around aircraft such as helicopters, safety rules, and basic fire behavior.
  • Assists in fuels activities, working as part of a seasonal crew performing field work to accomplish thinning, pruning, mastication, and piling slash associated with wildland fuels projects. This will include operating equipment, such as: a chipper, DR mower, chainsaw and/or pruning equipment.
  • Participates in fire/fuels and safety training in the techniques, practices, and methods of fire suppression and in the safe, efficient operation and use of hand and power tools, equipment and vehicles used in Fireline activities.
  • Participates in safety sessions and fire/fuels critiques.(After Action Review)
  • Ensures own and others welfare and safety in all aspects of the assignments.
  • Ensures daily repairs and maintenance of equipment, such as: a chipper, DR mower, a pump, wildland engine, chainsaw and/or other equipment. Maintains equipment daily in an operable condition, troubleshoots equipment in need of repair.
  • Assists preparing hazardous fuels reduction projects by flagging treatment areas, property ownership corners and lines, and riparian or wildlife management zones, cultural surveys, and GPS.
  • Assists in collecting for a variety of fuel-monitoring projects, including stand exams and fuel line transects.
  • Maintains electronic timesheet on a weekly basis.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
  • Assists forestry personnel in collecting data for forestry projects, including accurately identifying conifer and hardwood species present on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation, measuring tree diameter at breast heights and total tree heights and stand exams for survival, stocking surveys, and tree planting.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS:
  • No experience necessary.
  • Able to lift and carry 50 lbs.
  • Able to walk all day in steep and rugged terrain if needed.
  • Ability to learn and operate fire suppression equipment, chainsaw, hand tools, and other equipment.
  • Ability to learn and familiarize with local tree forestry practices.
  • Ability to learn and familiarize with GPS units and computer.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Must maintain a valid state driver’s license and be tribally insurable.
  • Pass fire physical and able to pass the arduous work capacity test annually (45lbs. for 3 mile in 45 minutes or less).
  • Must be 18
  • High school Diploma or GED preferred.
  • Must take and successfully pass the following fire courses by June 30 of current year: I100, IS700, L-180, S-190 and S-130 in addition to the Annual Fireline Safety refresher (RT-130).
  • Able to qualify as a FFT2.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
Work is performed under the direct supervision of the Fire/Fuels Technician III, the designated project leader or Supervisory Technician. Other supervision may be designated on wildfire assignments of specific project. The supervisor specifies the immediate objectives, scope of the assignment, deadlines to be met, resources available, and works closely with employee in unusual situations that lack clear precedents. Work is reviewed by the Fire/Fuels Technician III or designated project leader at appropriate intervals for technical accuracy, accomplishment of objectives and coordinating with other natural resource activities. The incumbent will work with other seasonal personnel to ensure projects are performed in a timely manner. No supervisory responsibilities.

GUIDELINES:
Procedures for doing the work have been established and a number of specific guidelines exists such as oral instructions, standing operating procedures, maps, equipment manuals, health and safety codes, Wildland Fire and Aviation Program Management and Operations Guide (Red Book), field operations guides, and training prior to actual fire suppression, prescribed fire and fuels management activities; referring needed deviations or questions to the supervisor or higher graded employee who is available while performing activities. Specific tasks, use of tools and methods and sequence in which tasks are to be done are determined by evaluation of the situation and issue involved. This work requires the employee to recognize which of several techniques and procedures is best suited to the specific situation encountered. Actions taken vary dependent upon the terrain, intensity of fire, fuel availability, wind velocity and resource values.
SCOPE AND EFFECT:
  • The purpose of the work is to assist with operations of the fire/fuels management program on the reservation in accordance with the Fire Management, Fuels Management Plan and Forest Management Plan; and ensure the effective protection of the Tribe’s natural resources through effective forestry/fire/fuels management.
  • The work affects the protection of life, property and forest resources on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation.
PERSONAL AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS:
Contacts are primarily with other members of the fire/fuels staff, the supervisor and others in the forestry organization. Contacts are made to exchange information about the immediate work situation in which crewmembers are to receive instructions and to clarify how the work is to be done.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Arduous: Duties include rigorous fieldwork requiring above average physical performance, endurance and superior conditioning. Work requires prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items and similar strenuous activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity. Duties include some strenuous activities in emergencies under adverse environmental conditions and over extended periods of time. Operation of some specialized fire equipment can place extended physical stress. Incumbent is subject to a medical examination and must annually pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work is primarily performed outdoors in forest environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky or covered by vegetation. Temperatures may exceed 100 degrees F and fall well below freezing. Risks include dust, smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise and falling and rolling material. Personnel must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor work situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. The hazardous nature of certain jobs requires that protective clothing be worn (hard hat, gloves, leather boots, flame resistant clothing and other personal protective equipment). Work requires travel by vehicle and/or foot.
TRAINING GOALS:
Work to improve knowledge of fire behavior, fire suppression, and hazard fuel reduction in wildland and urban settings. Initiate internal position task book and wildfire position task books. Evaluations will determine if the incumbent has successfully completed all the duties and requirements specified in this position description.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
The incumbent is required to supply their own work boots and appropriate work clothing. Boots are to be ALL leather with a vibram sole, tops to be a minimum of 8 inches (inside measure). Long work pants and a work shirt are required for all project work. The Fire Management program will supply Nomex clothing, fire pack with fire shelter, work gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, and hearing protection for work and fire assignments.
OTHER:
Must not have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty within the past five years. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe reserves the right to hire according to its Indian Preference Policy. Applicants are subject to a pre-employment drug test and at-random testing following employment. Positions with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe are subject to a six-month orientation period.

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