Senior Wildland Fire Investigator, Natural Resource Investigator
Full-time, Permanent, Represented position
Location: Northeast Region - Colville, WA
Work Hours and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered
Salary: $4,410.00 - $5,929.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 05/01/2025. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:

Duty: Senior Wildland Fire Investigator for Northeast Region
Tasks include:

• Conducts and/or directs wildland fire investigations primarily within the Northeast Region with an emphasis on complex or suspicious fires, within DNR’s jurisdiction. Gathers and preserves evidence, interviews witnesses or other involved parties, develops and maintains case files, testifies at hearings and in courts of law, and provides depositions.
• Determines if a wildland fire was criminally or negligently caused and coordinates with the Wildfire Investigations Manager for further action.  
• Prepares written reports documenting a summary of case findings and conclusions, as well as cost recovery recommendations as necessary.
• Provides consultation and strategic planning with Wildfire Investigations Manager, DNR’s region management, and, as applicable, the litigation/prosecution team in case strategy before and throughout civil and criminal proceedings. 
• Assists with criminal investigations when directed by local law enforcement and/or DNR law enforcement, including but not limited to developing and maintaining case information, applying for search warrants and subpoenas, securing and analyzing evidence, obtaining witness statements, and assisting in preparing affidavits supporting criminal charges. Assists government prosecutors during investigation and trial when applicable.
• Serves as an unarmed Senior Wildland Fire Investigator of wildland fires as a branch of the Law Enforcement program and may assist in investigating wildland fire-related criminal violations on lands protected by DNR to determine origin and cause.  
• Determines criminal liability and cost recovery. Assists law enforcement in the enforcement of criminal fire laws for forest protection of the state (under RCW 76.04) and as regulated under WAC 332-24 for the protection of the public, department personnel, and department property and resources.
• Assists law enforcement in preparing and applying for search warrants, and/or other legal processes as necessary. May assist, in a limited capacity, in serving search warrants. 
• Remains current on relative statutory changes and federal/state court decisions that affect the wildland fire investigations and forest protection.
• Liaison between the region management and law enforcement and investigative agencies.

Duty: Northeast Region subject matter expert (SME) in origin and cause determination investigations
Tasks include:

• Serves as the subject matter expert for the Northeast Region in conducting origin and cause determination investigations for forest and other fires. Provides origin and cause determinations to Wildland fire analysts and assists with preventative planning measures. 
• Oversees complex civil investigations, providing effective case management through case supervision, managing the collection, retention, and dissemination of wildland fire origin, cause, and suppression cost recovery information for wildland fires for the region and statewide, as applicable.
• Determines caseload priorities and provides information critical to the prosecution of civil wildland fire-related cases held in district, superior, or other courts.
• Serves as an SME on multi-jurisdictional wildland fire task forces as requested.
• Oversees the collection, handling, preservation, and submission of evidence for analysis per DNR’s evidence policies and procedures.
• Lead investigator over regional wildland fire investigators, ensuring compliance with existing forest protection laws, court rules, agency standards, policies, and procedures related to wildland fire investigations, and cost recovery. Reviews, evaluates, and inspects work performed by other DNR regional wildland fire investigators and provides feedback as necessary.
• Provides recommendations on the development of policies, procedures, controls, and training programs pertaining to investigation activities. 
• Assists the Region’s cost recovery Fiscal Analysts (Accountants) in the collection of negligent and/or criminal-caused fire costs.

Duty: Provides Wildland Fire Investigation Training
Tasks include:

• Assists Wildfire Investigations Manager in providing Wildland Fire Origin & Cause Determination (FI-210) training to both DNR and cooperating interagency personnel selected to be wildland fire investigators. Training is provided for fire investigators at various levels with a focus on fostering teamwork among participants.
• Evaluates training needs to ensure that the DNR’s regional wildland fire investigators are adequately trained to perform all functions of fire investigations and makes recommendations to Law Enforcement Division Management as needed.
• Assists in planning, selecting, preparing, coordinating, and implementing the FI-210 training for qualified and in-training investigators and other agency personnel regarding wildland fire incident investigations and basic fire-related laws.
• Recruits investigators to build a substantial and sustainable wildland fire investigation program.

Duty: Other Duties as Assigned
Tasks include:

• Complete tasks as assigned by the supervisor or appointing authority (Chief of Law Enforcement).

Required Qualifications: 

• Three (3) years’ experience investigating the origin and cause of wildland fires, including cost recovery efforts and establishing reports;
  OR Three (3) years’ experience as a lead investigator or detective with a law enforcement agency that includes criminal prosecution and the authority to independently plan and conduct investigations in civil and criminal cases.
• Experience in the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland fire investigations, civil investigations, public relations, court rules and proceedings, and evidence collection handling and storage.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Ability to think independently and creatively solve complex problems.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.