![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/san-diego-wildfire-ii.jpg.jpg\")
In late June, the Office of Personnel Management released a memo outlining an update to the classification of \u201cfederal wildland firefighters\u201d as directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which President Joe Biden signed into law in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Wildland Fire Management occupational series creates a unique job description and progression structure separate from the Forestry Technician series which had collectively governed wildland firefighters along with several other unique jobs since 1972.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The update details the the duties, skills and risks for the different types of wildland firefighters, including specialties for engine operations, aviation, fire prevention, parachuting, helicopter operations, fuel management and planning. Entry level positions start at the GS-3 rate with advancement up to GS-11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe issuance of the new Wildland Firefighter occupational series is a critical step in addressing long-standing wildland firefighter talent management challenges across the government,\u201d the memo said. \u201cThe series is a part of the long-term solution to ensure federal wildland firefighters are supported, equitably compensated, and have a better work-life balance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All federal agencies who employ wildland firefighters have 12 months since the issuance date of the memo to implement the change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The federal wildfire service has been facing a retention problem in recent years. Fire seasons, which once only lasted about four months out of 12, are now are almost year-round. The extending time away from home and grueling work coupled with low pay has led many in the service to switch over to state fire agencies or leave the service all together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Casey Judd, the president of the Federal Wildland Fire Service Association, said the retention issued was a matter of recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe vast majority of our membership told us that if they were just recognized for who they are and what they do, and not asking for any more money, then they would hesitate to leave even if there was a good offer from CalFire or some other local, state or government agency,\u201d Judd said. \u201cAnd I know that is hard for a lot of people to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wildfire seasons were relatively short and not as intense when the Forestry Technician occupational series was created. During the fire offseason, the forestry techs would be reassigned to other land management duties. The broad classification prevented over specialization at a time when that was not needed, which is contrary to what the current circumstances require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reclassification is not the first attempt by the federal government in order to increase retention of their firefighters. Previously, money has been tried as an incentive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Forest Service threw out money in retention bonuses back in \u201807 and \u201808,\u201d Judd said. \u201cWe knew that was going to be short lived and people were going to spend the money and still jump ship. And that\u2019s exactly what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Money is also part of the current effort at increasing retention. The infrastructure bill raised federal wildland firefighter pay by $20,000 or 50 percent, whichever is less. This comes after President Biden raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour for the firefighters in June 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s not about money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The badges that the Forrest Service firefighters have worn just say \u2018Forest Service,\u2019\u201d Judd said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He recalled at time he ran into former federal wildland firefighter who had left to join CalFire, California\u2019s state wildfire agency. When asked why he left the federal service, the man pointed to the badge on his uniform. It said \u201cFirefighter.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The OPM has releases a memo outlining an update to the classification of federal wildland firefighters creating a unique job description and progression.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":68404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":25,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[55,11,31,25],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3266],"class_list":["post-23633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career","category-fedlife","category-home","category-your-career"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"3MHPZ3TRSRGVPKWAILTURVGJYU","arc_canonical_url":"\/fedlife\/career\/2022\/08\/18\/hot-shots-federal-wildland-crews-win-recognition-as-firefighters\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Picture1.jpg_47fb0c.jpg\")