The Plumas National Forest, Mt. Hough Ranger District, has the following vacancy currently open:

GS-462-05 Senior Firefighter, Helitack (1 position)

The tour of duty and entry level wage for this position is as follows:

The position(s) will be located at the following station(s) on the Plumas National Forest:

Quincy Work Center, Quincy, CA

Description of the duties associated with this position:

Senior Firefighter:

The incumbent serves on a fire crew as a senior crew member within the fire management organization. The purpose of the position is wildland fire suppression/management/control as a specialized firefighter on an engine, helitack or hand crew with responsibility for the operation and maintenance of specialized tools or equipment. Helitack duties include loading cargo considering methods, weight distribution, necessity for securing, total weight etc., and completes manifests of personnel and equipment being transported to the fire or other work site. May exit helicopter in remote areas to construct helispots, or to attack small fires, hot spots and spot fires. Specialized firefighter serves as certified rappeller or specialist in the operation and maintenance of accessory equipment. Duties may involve fire prevention, patrol, detection, or prescribed burning. The incumbent may be assigned for varying periods of time into one or more types of positions within the wildfire program where the individual's specialized skills are required. Incumbent may be required to operate a government owned/or leased motor vehicle, therefore, incumbent must possess a valid State Driver's License.

The incumbents to these positions are required to take and pass a Work Capacity Test. This consists of a three mile hike, within 45 minutes, carrying 45 pounds. Further information about this test can be found at www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs.

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Area description:

The Plumas is a transition Forest ranging from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the south to the Cascades in the north, the Sacramento Valley uplands in the west to the Great Basin high desert in the east. Fuel types range from mixed conifer fuel type to high elevation Red Fir to eastside pine. Elevations range from 3000 feet to 8000 feet. The Plumas National Forest encompasses over a million acres of tree covered mountains, filled with hundreds of high alpine lakes and thousands of miles of clear running streams. Within an easy half day or less drive are Lake Tahoe, Reno, Sacramento, Redding, Chico, Lake Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a vast variety of activities and opportunities. Popular activities within Plumas County and the Plumas National Forest include hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, boating and white water rafting, cross county skiing and snowmobiling.

More information about the forest can be found on the Plumas National Forest website.
www.r5.fs.fed.us/plumas/

The Forest averages about 250 wildfires per year and modules respond to 25-50 incidents per year. The Plumas National Forest fire management team takes pride in it's high level of professionalism.

Community information:

Quincy:
The community of Quincy is the Plumas County seat and has a population of approximately 5,000. Quincy is located at an elevation of 3400 feet in a small mountain valley in the northeastern Sierra Nevada. Area vegetation is typically mixed conifer. Year-round county population is approximately 25,000. Local community services include: a hospital, a limited service airport, a public library, a theatre, a junior college, a high school, two public elementary schools, one private elementary school, a variety of churches, two supermarkets, a bowling alley, a public pool, a health club, and numerous restaurants and motels.

Susanville:
The nearest sizeable community to the Laufman Work Center is Susanville. Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada's east side, Susanville is a full service community of about 12,000 with a larger population in the surrounding Lassen County. The largest community in north-eastern California, it offers a hospital, a number of independent school districts, churches representing most denominations, a local community college, and a strong sense of community. The city of Reno, Nevada is a short 90 miles to the south, and both Chico and Redding, sizeable central valley communities, are within two hours drive. Real estate values vary greatly, with prices for a single family house ranging from $60,000 to $200,000+. Susanville is the gateway to a host of recreational opportunities. National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands are minutes away, offering fishing, hunting, off-roading, mountain-biking, camping, water related sports, wildlife watching, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, wilderness adventures, and more. The Lassen Volcanic National Park is about an hour away and features the 10,000 foot Lassen Peak and other volcanic features. San Francisco, Sacramento, the California coast, Lake Tahoe, are all within a half day drive.

Blairsden/Graeagle/Portola:
The community of Blairsden/Graeagle is located 60 miles west of Reno, NV, and 20 miles east of Quincy at an elevation of approximately 4400 feet. Local community services include a market, hardware store, bakery, deli, pizza parlor, two full service gas stations, physicians clinic, dental office, post office, and several restaurants and motels. There are four 18-hole championship and two 9-hole golf courses within five miles of the office. Johnsville Ski Area is a local historic downhill ski area which hosts two long board racing events per year as well as public downhill skiing. Rentals for a two bedroom/two bath condominium start around $1000 per month and housing costs for a three bedroom/two bath start around $180,000. Since housing is expensive in the Blairsden/Graeagle area many employees live in Portola or Quincy. The community of Portola (ten miles east of Blairsden/Graeagle) has a population of 2,000 with services including a hospital with physician's clinic, a public library, one elementary school, one middle school, one high school, a variety of churches, a supermarket, a bowling alley, a health club, and several restaurants and motels. Rentals for a two bedroom/one bath start around $600 per month and housing costs for a three bedroom/two bath start around $120,000.

Reno:
The nearest town to the Frenchman Work Center is Chilcoot, about 15 mile away. This is a small community, and several people working at this location choose to live in Reno, Nevada. Reno, NV is about one hour from the Blairsden/Graeagle area, and about 40 minutes from the Frenchman Work Center. Reno offers all the amenities of a large city. Major hospitals, university, shopping centers, entertainment, and job opportunities are just some of what Reno has to offer. The Blairsden/Graeagle, Portola, and Quincy communities offer a variety of cultural events, and year-round sporting activities are available for all ages in a picturesque mountain setting. The areas have four seasons with warm days/cool nights in the summer and periodic snow storms in the winter. Average annual precipitation is 35 to 40 inches. Within an easy half day or less drive are Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Redding, Chico, Lake Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a vast variety of activities and opportunities.

How to apply:

These positions are being filled through vacancy announcements FSJOBS-02-D001 and FSJOBS-02-M002. You can access these announcements at www.fs.fed.us/people/employ/asap/

From this website you can also request an application package and obtain additional information.

If you have any further questions about this position or the application process, please call one of the following Mt. Hough Ranger District personnel:

Don Hamilton,Helitack Superintendent: 530.283-7836

Kirk Rothwell, Helitack Captain: 530.283-7836

Larry Wright, District Fire Management Officer: 530.283-7630

We look forward to hearing from you!