Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Protective Service
Most days are spent in the woods: patrolling assigned ground for smoke, hazardous conditions, and weather, then logging temperature, humidity, wind, and cloud types. When a fire starts, the work is locating it on a map with landmarks or an azimuth sighter, estimating its size and character, and radioing or phoning those details to a base camp. Smaller fires get put out with portable extinguishers, shovels, and axes; larger ones mean directing crews on the fireline. The role also includes wildland firefighting training and relaying messages about crews, accidents, and hazards. It suits people who like outdoor patrol, map work, and teaching crews while staying in radio contact.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$56'870
Median Wage Market Position
$56'870
What you might do
- Patrol forests for fires and hazardous conditions
- Relay emergency and fire-hazard messages to camp
- Estimate fire size and report it by radio
- Direct crews working firelines during forest fires
- Mark fire locations on maps using landmarks
- Compile weather data such as wind and humidity
Skills that matter
- Directing crews on firelines
- Estimating fire size for base camp
- Training crews in wildland firefighting
- Mapping fires with azimuth sighters
- Relaying crew locations and hazards
- Logging wind, humidity, and temperature
AI & the future of this role
Patrols, hazard checks, and on-site enforcement still depend on fieldwork, local judgment, and coordination with fire crews that machines struggle to replace. Pattern spotting in weather or fuel data may assist planning, but prevention recommendations and public trust keep much of the role grounded.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details