Address:  

3700 East 16th Avenue
Apache Junction, AZ 85119

Salary: $13.4897 - $19.2500 Hourly 

Grade: 15

Closing Date:  July 31, 2025

This position serves as a lead crew member on a 20 person hand crew. Serves as a lead firefighter on a hand crew or other related fire suppression related positions performing fire suppression and/or fuels management duties under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain. Performs all aspects of wildland fire control and fuels mitigation. Collects fire weather data, maps projects, maintains records, and assists prevention officer with fire wise community assessments. Maintains a variety of equipment, small engine, tools, facilities and vehicles. Will act on behalf of the squad boss in their absence.

***This position is only open to current DFFM employees***

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead a hand crew and perform all aspects of wildland fire control, fuels mitigation including line construction, line preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop up.

• Collects fire weather data, fuel and map projects, and maintains records. Gathers and considers information on weather data, topography, fuel types, and fire behavior.

• Act on behalf of the squad boss in their absence.

• Operates and instructs crew members in the use of chainsaws in a wildland and fuels reduction project capacity. Cleans and maintains crew wildland fire chainsaws.

• Leads and participates within the crew to complete prescribed fire projects in a timely and safe manner.

• Provides for repairs, general maintenance and preventative maintenance of all tools, equipment, small engines and facilities as directed.

• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Fire behavior including causes of wildland fire, influence of temperature, humidity, wind, topography, slope and fuel moisture conditions, and fuels in order to know where to attack the fire, build fireline, where to be positioned to manage a wildland fire, and identify hazards.
• Wildland fire management techniques, methods and conditions to accurately analyze fire circumstances.
• Specific technical firefighting techniques of aircraft, burning out, and chainsaw use.
• Technical knowledge to perform in specific fire assignments safely and efficiently.

Skills in:

• Leadership.
• Communication.
• Organization and prioritization.
• Use and operation, maintenance, repair and care of wildland firefighting hand tools, chainsaws, small engines, vehicles and facilities.

Ability to:

• Lead and motivate crew members.
• Work as a cohesive team member of a 20 person hand crew.
• Practice fire suppression under the most adverse conditions of climate, fuels, and terrain.
• Command low complexity incidents and complete proper paperwork.
• Properly use firing equipment and burning techniques in a prescribed fire setting.
• Adhere to State of Arizona and Department of Forestry and Fire Management Standards of Conduct, policies, procedures and practices.
• Work weekends and holidays, if needed.

A valid Arizona Driver's License.

NWCG Firefighter type 2 qualified upon hire.

Firefighter type 1/Incident Commander Type 5 trainee or qualified, Intermediate faller Type 2 trainee or qualified (must obtain qualifications within 12 months of hire).

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program, learn more at hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion).
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition reimbursement eligible after one year of employment

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.

Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

The current contribution rate is 12.29%

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Lisa Ross at lross@dffm.az.gov for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 771-1427. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.