Fuels Crew Lead, Wildland Fire Management Lead; WFML

Full-time, Project, Represented positions (WPEA)

Anticipated Project is October 2026 - March 2029

Location:

Northeast Region - Deer Park, WA

Work Hours flexibility may be available and considered

Salary: $3,827.00 - $5,111.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 10/05/2026. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

The Northeast Region of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is actively seeking four (4) Fuels Crew Leads (Wildland Fire Management Leads) for the Arcadia District. This position will be a second-in-charge role to a Forest Health Engine Captain on the newly created River City Fuels Crew during non-fire season months and will operate as an Engine Leader on a Type 5 Brush engine during the fire season months of the year.

The Arcadia District is based out of Deer Park, WA and consists of diverse fuel types that range from agriculture/shrub, steppe/dry ponderosa pine to hemlock/subalpine fir forests.

The Arcadia District is responsible for forest health, wildfire suppression, prevention education, and regulation on all or parts of four counties (Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens and Lincoln), including one hundred thousand acres of state trust land. The Arcadia District conducts suppression actions on approximately 300 fire starts annually, processes approximately 400 burn permit requests, and provides training courses to our local cooperators.

A large part of the Arcadia District is located in the Wildland Urban Interface of the greater Spokane area, where the primary focus on hazardous fuels reduction takes place and the heaviest loading of initial attack wildfire incidents. Interagency cooperation occurs on the majority of fuels project sites, wildland fires, and most training courses. Interagency cooperation includes working with local fire districts, state and federal partners, and is a key function of the position.

The Fuels Crew Lead will be expected to excel at two separate jobs over the course of the project duration. One will be working under the direction of a Forest Health Engine Captain on the River City Fuels reduction crew, assessing and monitoring the safety of fellow crew members while also comparing crew production output to project deadlines. This position will be making recommendations on fuels reduction strategies and then coordinating the completion of the prescriptions.

Although not a direct supervisor in this role, individuals selected will be provided with additional responsibility such as purchasing, public education, and other duties as assigned. The Fuels Crew Lead will be operating alongside agency partners and working to represent the District professionally.

The fuels reduction crew will be implementing wildland hazardous fuels mitigation projects. These critical services protect public resources, natural resources, and public safety. The fuels reduction projects will help the agency implement Goal 1 of the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan, Eastern Washington, by directly providing scientifically sound, landscape-scale cross-boundary management and restoration treatments in priority watersheds to increase forest and watershed resilience.

The treatment projects include non-commercial tree thinning using chainsaws, tree pruning and slash abatement. Slash abatement can be performed using prescribed fire, chipping or wind rowing for mechanical mastication.

During the fire season, the Fuels Crew Lead will be operating as a Wildland Firefighting Engine Lead on a Type 5 brush Engine in the Arcadia District, leading up to 4 Wildland Firefighters, and responsible for responding to wildfire incidents in a safe and efficient manner. This will include operating in NWCG Wildland Fire positions such as Incident Commander, Engine Boss, Heavy Equipment Boss, and more depending on the scale of the incident.

When not on wildfire incidents, Engine Leaders are responsible for creating daily schedules for the Engine, which may include training, studying, or checking previous incidents. The Engine will be expected to be competent and professional while on and off the fire line.

The Arcadia District is a fast-paced and complex work environment that places a focus on building culture that requires an individual who will work within the team goals and…