To apply: Follow this link and click "Apply". Complete the application evaluation questions.

 

Position: Winter Fire Crew Member (in partnership with the Cibola National Forest)

Start/End Dates: January 6th – March 19th, 2025

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program

Location: Based out of Durango, CO

Age: Must be 21 or older

Stipend: $844/week

Benefits: Health Insurance Eligible, food provided while in the field, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment.

 

Members will earn the following trainings and certificates: 

• S130: Firefighter Training
• S190: Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior
• S212: Wildland Fire Chainsaws
• L-180: Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service
• I-100: Intro to Incident Command System
• IS-700: National Incident Management System
• First Aid/CPR certificates
• Arduous Work Capacity (PACK) Test

 

About Southwest Conservation Corps: Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment. SCC supports youth crews, adult camping crews (ages 18-30), and Veteran fire crews (ages 18-35) with crew-based programming to complete challenging and impactful conservation projects throughout the Los Valles and Four Corners Regions.

 

About the Position: The Civilian Fire Corps program provides training and on-the-job experience for those interested in entering careers and gaining experience in natural resource management. The crew will partner with the Cibola National Forest and will have the opportunity to complete project work alongside Forest Service staff and Wildland Fire Fighters. The participants work together to train and complete natural resource management projects, specifically related to fire fuels management and fuels reduction. Project work and schedules will vary depending on region and season. Projects require members to camp on site at project locations for up 8 days at a time, followed by 6 days off, or possibly a 4/3 schedule.

 

Responsibilities & Core Competencies: 

Leadership & Mentorship 

• Integrate values pertaining to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within the corps
• Foster 21st century work skills in corps members, i.e.: collaboration & teamwork, creativity & imagination, critical thinking, problem-solving, flexibility & adaptability
• Model strong communication and conflict resolution skills

Project Management & Implementation

• Train & motivate a crew to complete high quality technical fire mitigation projects
• Implement a 10-hour workday and ensure professionalism is maintained at camp
• Delegate project work & camp chores
• Effectively coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader, & SCC staff 

Risk Management 

• Analyze, manage, and inform on hazardous conditions and crew health
• Exhibit strong situational awareness at worksite and campsite
• Transport crew and equipment safely in SCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers

Administrative Skills 

• Meet all deadlines for documentation, i.e., timesheets, evaluations, incident reports, etc.
• Record all project related outcomes and deliverables
• Manage food budget and credit card for purchases, providing receipts for all purchase

 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Outdoor leadership experience
• Physically fit and able to work 40-50 hr work weeks 
• High School diploma or GED certificate
• Must be 21, or have had a driver’s license for 3 consecutive years with a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), and a current driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with SCC or other conservation corps
• Experience working with veterans
• Wildland firefighting experience
• Military experience preferred

Essential Functions: 

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit, talk and listen.
• Required to use hands to operate objects and tools, and to reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to focus.
• Required to drive an SCC vehicle.
• Enforce all SCC policies. SCC is a substance-free work environment. All must refrain from the use of tobacco products, vaping, alcohol, and drugs while in the program.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.