Utah State Fuels Crew Member

Fuels Crew Member Position  

Summary 

The Fuels Crew Member will be a part of a 7-person State of Utah crew removing trees and brush around 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 

Wage: $18.50 – $22.11 

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 5-6 crew members for the  Southeast Area 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 trees in communities vulnerable to wildfire. This crew  is generally self-sufficient when on assignment. As a general scope, projects  include: pine, aspen and fir tree felling and piling, Pinyon and juniper cutting 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 lands so members must be comfortable working with private landowners in achieving a  common goal.  

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

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

• FAL2 (Sawyer B)
• Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface (S-215)
• Firefighter Type 1 Training (S-131) and potential task books
• Basic Air Operations (S-270)
• Herbicide Applicator License

While fire suppression is emphasized in training, fire experience is generally limited. There may be  opportunities to go on local Initial Attack as well as 2-week assignments, but a vast majority of the work will be on fuels reduction projects.  

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Chainsawing safely and efficiently with a crew.
• Operate a large chipper safely.
• Apply herbicide to stumps and vegetation.
• Drive large trucks (Dodge 4500) with heavy trailers.
• Plant Identification
• Follow direction and safely fight fire
• Occasionally supervise volunteer/contract saw crews.
• Field mapping of worksites.

Required Qualifications 

• Ability to mitigate and resolve conflict on a small crew
• Communicate professionally with landowners and coworkers
• 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 using a chainsaw
• Some experience using herbicide
• Experience working in a small crew setting outdoors under challenging conditions..

Employee Benefits 

Benefits for crew members 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 (including camping gear) is provided except work boots.

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