Utah State Fuels Crew Lead

Fuels Crew Lead Position 

Summary 

The Fuels Crew Lead will supervise a 7-person State of Utah crew removing trees and brush in support of fuels reduction projects in communities throughout Southeast Utah. This position will report to the Moab Area Office but will work in communities from the mountains around Price, UT to the desert rivers as far south as Bluff, UT. 

Season: March 4th – November 29th (End Date is Flexible)  

Duty Office: Moab, UT  

Wage: $18.50 – $27.47 

Application Deadline: February 3rd. Start Date: Early March

To apply please send resume, references, and optional cover letter to johnwiegand@utah.gov Position Overview 

The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands is looking for a professional, organized crew lead for  our Southeast State Fuels Crew based in Moab, UT. We aim to train the next generation of land  managers and give them the skills needed to succeed in the field. 

Primarily this crew cuts, chips, sprays and burns fire fuels in communities vulnerable to wildfire. This crew is generally self-sufficient when on assignment. As a general scope, projects  include: pine, aspen and fir felling and piling, Pinyon and juniper removal and chipping, community chipping days,  and Russian olive riparian removal work. 

Project sites include low elevation projects in Moab, Castle Valley, and Bluff and generally move up in  elevation as the summer gets hot into the La Sal Mountains and the West Tavaputs. All projects are on  private land so the crew lead will need to be comfortable coordinating with landowners to achieve a  common goal. 

When not on fuels reduction projects, the crew lead will coordinate assisting with wildland firefighting,  forest inventory projects, prescribed burns, and may  assist on projects across Utah when requested. 

The Fuels Crew Lead will report to the Southeast WUI Specialist (WUI Assistant) who will give project assignments,  guidance, and training as needed. 

A typical work week will be Monday-Thursday (10 hour days). Occasionally 8 day Tuesday-Tuesday  hitches are required with plenty of notice. The season is roughly split 50/50 between work weeks in  town and work weeks out camping on site. 

This is a very physically demanding job but the comradery and end state are very rewarding. 

Training we will provide:

• Firefighter Type 2 Crewmember (FFT2)
• Wildland Fire Chainsaw (S-212/FAL3)
• First Aid CPR

Successful completion of an arduous level pack test is required after initial training. 

While fire suppression is emphasized in training, time on fire assignments is generally limited and is not the primary focus of this position.. There may be  opportunities to go on local Initial Attack as well as 2-week interagency handcrew assignments, but a  vast majority of the work will be on fuels reduction projects. 

The crew lead will be required to attend S-131 and open their FFT1/IC5 task book if time allows. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee chainsaw safety with the crew.
• Be the main point of contact for landowners in the field.
• Supervise volunteer/contract saw crews.
• Crew administrative paperwork including timesheets, travel, injury reports, etc.
• Attend relevant fuels committee meetings.
• Tracking mileage and expenses while in the field.
• Overseeing equipment maintenance and repair.
• Oversee wood and equipment hauling with large trucks.
• Written end of week project reports.
• Monitor herbicide mixing and legal application rates.
• Follow direction and safely fight fire.
• Occasionally use mapping software to make field maps.
• Use Survey123 for project and incident reporting.
• Mediate conflict in the field.

Required Qualifications 

• 1-2 years on a similar field crew in member or lead capacity.
• Make project level decisions based on stated goals and funding.
• Some experience using a chainsaw in a professional setting.
• Ability to resolve conflict, communicate respectfully with coworkers and members of the public, and be flexible to changing conditions.
• Resolve work related concerns  professionally with landowners.
• Ability to work and camp on remote worksites for up to 8 days.
• Driver’s License and ability to safely drive work trucks.

Desired Qualifications 

• Experience handling herbicide and backing trailers
• FFT2
• FAL3 or better
• Part 107 FAA License

Employee Benefits 

Benefits for the crew lead is limited but includes the following: 

• Per diem while camping on site is $256/work week.
• Time off is encouraged during the season, it is unpaid.
• 1 hour of PT per day when not in the field.
• Everything (inc luding camping gear) is provided except work boots.

There may be opportunities for further career development depending on timing and interest levels  including: 

• Part 107 FAA Drone License
• FAL2 (Sawyer B)
• Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface (S-215)
• ArcGIS training
• Basic Air Operations (S-270)
• Herbicide Applicator License

We strive to train a diverse workforce for a future in land management and will figure out how to get  you the experience  you need for your future.