Continued population growth, more unwanted human-caused fires and an increase in protection acres has the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) seeking an increase in seasonal wildfire crews for the 2024 season. IDL Fire has openings in our Southwest Supervisory Area in Boise.
IDL Fire now has wildfire suppression responsibility on 9.6 million acres of state, federal, and private timberlands. In 2023, 95% of wildfires under IDL’s protection were kept to 10 acres or less.
This responsibility and success are made possible by our seasonal firefighting force. Thanks to budget requests approved in recent years by the Idaho Legislature, these positions continue to have a higher hourly pay and hazard pay.
IDL seasonal firefighters earn between $15.91 — $19.09 an hour, depending on experience. In addition to an hourly wage, firefighters earn overtime and hazard pay when actively working to suppress wildfires.
“Fighting for Idaho comes with incredible opportunities that can grow into a career with the state,” said IDL Director Dustin Miller. “We encourage interested individuals to take these opportunities to protect Idaho’s natural resources and communities.”
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Idaho’s Superintendent of Public Instruction and Idaho Land Board Commissioner Debbie Critchfield leads the Idaho Career Ready Students program. It increases the capacity of Career Technical Education (CTE) in Idaho middle and high schools by offering districts grant opportunities to create programs that prepare students to meet local and regional workforce needs. Several grants have been awarded to support logging education and the timber industry. Firefighting training programs in Idaho high schools could be eligible for future grants.
“We need seasonal firefighters at the Idaho Department of Lands, and young people taking these positions have great potential to develop excellent careers here at home,” said Critchfield. “Some high schools in other states provide wildland firefighter training. We have that same potential here through the Idaho Career Ready Students program.”
Applicants must be 18 years old to work at the Idaho Department of Lands. Go to IDL’s Seasonal Positions Finder website to find wildfire jobs by location across the state. Wildfire jobs are open for recruitment through April 15.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/3czprvph to learn more and apply. Or contact the IDL Southwest Supervisory Area at 208-334-3488.
