Forest Service Announces Permanent Fire Positions for 2026

The San Juan National Forest of the USDA Forest Service is hiring.

We are looking for dedicated individuals to support fire operations. These positions are vital to wildfire preparedness and disaster response across federal and state agencies.

Jobs include dispatchers, equipment operators, fire engine operators, fire prevention specialists, forestry aids and technicians, handcrew members, helitack crew members, hotshot crew members, prescribed fire and fuels specialists, smokejumpers, and more. See the attached outreach document for more details and position contact information.

Applications are open now through September 24 on USAJobs.gov.
Available Positions:
Columbine Ranger District – Bayfield, CO

  • Forestry Technician (GS-7/8)

Pagosa Ranger District – Pagosa Springs, CO

  • Senior Firefighter (GS-4/5)

Dolores Ranger District – Dolores, CO

  • Supervisory Forestry Technician (GS-8/9)
  • Supervisory Forestry Technician (GS-7/8)
  • Forestry Technician (GS-6/7)
  • Lead Forestry Technician (GS-5/6)
  • Lead Forestry Technician (GS-5/6)
  • Senior Firefighter (GS-4/5)

San Juan Hotshots

  • Supervisory Forestry Technician (GS-10)
  • Lead Forestry Technician (GS-5/6)
  • Senior Firefighter (GS-4/5)

Durango Helitack – Durango, CO

  • Supervisory Forestry Technician (GS-7/8)
  • Lead Forestry Technician (GS-6/7)

Any U.S. citizen or national at least 18 years of age can apply. For benefits, information about working in wildland fire, or for more information about the Forest Service, visit www.fs.usda.gov.

About the Forest Service
The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

If you are interested in applying to a position through the Fire Hire process, please contact Lance Martin at lance.martin@usda.gov, Toby Cook at toby.cook@usda.gov, or any of the contacts listed in the outreach document. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website.

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