What Do Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors supervise fire fighters who control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land. They also communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.

Other tasks include:

• Evaluate size, location, and condition of forest fires.
• Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.
• Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
• Train workers in skills, such as parachute jumping, fire suppression, aerial observation, or radio communication, in the classroom or on the job.
• Request and dispatch crews and position equipment so fires can be contained safely and effectively.
• Operate wildland fire engines or hoselays.

We asked Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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82% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 85% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities. They perform administrative duties, such as compiling and maintaining records, completing forms, preparing reports, or composing correspondence.

A typical day for a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor will also include:

• Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
• Maintain knowledge of forest fire laws and fire prevention techniques and tactics.
• Train workers in skills, such as parachute jumping, fire suppression, aerial observation, or radio communication, in the classroom or on the job.
• Inspect stations, uniforms, equipment, or recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
• Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.

We asked some Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	83% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	66% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	71% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	46% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	6% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	52% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors also investigate special fire issues, such as railroad fire problems, right-of-way burning, or slash disposal problems. They may also request and dispatch crews and position equipment so fires can be contained safely and effectively.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors Evaluate size, location, and condition of forest fires. They might also Regulate open burning by issuing burning permits, inspecting problem sites, issuing citations for violations of laws and ordinances, or educating the public in proper burning practices.

In addition, they Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Recommend equipment modifications or new equipment purchases.

To some Forest Fire Fighting Supervisors, it is also their responsibility to Monitor prescribed burns to ensure that they are conducted safely and effectively.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisor, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm

http://www.iaff.org/

http://www.i-women.org/

http://www.nfpa.org/