Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.

SOC: 33-2022.00

Common Job Titles

Fire Management OfficerFire Prevention TechnicianForest OfficerForest Patrolman

What You'll Need to Succeed

AI-generated

Key competencies for this occupation at a glance

  • KnowledgeDesign comprehensive fire prevention strategies and control measures integrating geographic, biological, and environmental factors.
  • KnowledgeEvaluate forest fire hazards and environmental risk factors during field inspections in diverse terrain and weather conditions.
  • KnowledgeAssess compliance with fire safety regulations and prevention protocols when conducting enforcement inspections independently.
  • MindsetAdvocate fire safety practices and regulatory compliance when engaging with public stakeholders and forest users.
  • MindsetIntegrate public safety priorities with environmental stewardship principles when developing educational programs and training materials.
  • KnowledgeCoordinate fire prevention teams and emergency response personnel during active fire seasons and incident response situations.
  • KnowledgeInterpret fire incident reports and geographic mapping data to communicate risk assessments to management and regulatory agencies.
  • MindsetReconcile stakeholder concerns with regulatory requirements when resolving conflicts over forest access and fire prevention measures.
  • KnowledgeAnalyze meteorological data from weather stations and monitoring equipment to predict fire behavior and recommend control measures.
  • Hands-onOperate GPS devices, surveillance equipment, and portable weather monitoring tools during field surveillance in remote forest areas.
  • Hands-onExecute physical inspection tasks in challenging terrain using specialized forestry equipment and vehicles under varied environmental conditions.
  • KnowledgeApply administrative and personnel management principles to organize, schedule, and prioritize fire prevention activities across jurisdictions.
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (2024)

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

2,780

Wage Distribution by Percentile

MetricU.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less$33,590
10% of workers earn the following or more$100,450
Workers on average earn$61,820

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

  • Administration and Management4.0/5
  • Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
  • Education and Training3.7/5
  • Personnel and Human Resources3.7/5
  • Public Safety and Security3.7/5
Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationAmazon Web Services AWS softwareAnsible softwareDockerFacebookGitKubernetesLinuxMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft Azure softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft PowerShellMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows ServerMicrosoft WordPuppetSalesforce software

Technology Skills

Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareFire incident reporting systemsMapping softwareObject oriented development environment softwarePerforce softwareRelational database software

Tools & Equipment

All terrain vehicles ATVBackpack pumpsBase radiosBrush hooksClaw hammersCrew transport busesDigital anemometersDigital hygrometers