Description
Patrol forest lands to detect fires, hazards, and violations; enforce fire regulations; and support prevention and initial response. Report fires and weather conditions and assist with public safety outreach.
- • Patrol assigned areas to spot fires, hazards, and weather changes.
- • Relay emergency and situational messages, including crew locations and fire hazards.
- • Estimate fire size and behavior and report findings by radio or phone.
- • Enforce sanitation and fire-prevention regulations; issue warnings or citations.
- • Extinguish small fires with portable extinguishers, shovels, and hand tools.
- • Locate fires on maps using azimuth sighters, GPS, and landmarks.
- • Maintain daily logs, incident reports, and patrol records.
- • Inspect and inventory patrol and firefighting equipment for readiness.
- • Perform basic maintenance and request repair or replacement of defective equipment.
- • Restrict or close public access during critical fire seasons.
- • Check campgrounds and dispersed sites for compliance with forest-use rules.
- • Inspect forest tracts and logging areas for fuel buildup and unsafe practices; recommend mitigation.
- • Collect and report weather observations, including temperature, humidity, wind, and cloud types.
- • Guide responding crews to fire locations and assist with initial suppression efforts.
- • Educate the public on fire safety, permits, and seasonal restrictions.
- • Participate in wildland firefighting drills and readiness training.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
