Fire Hire 2026
Announcements have now closed in USAJOBS for the yearly event known as “Fire Hire”. Check back for the next phase.
The US Forest Service Northern Region outreaches for many permanent wildland firefighter positions for each year. Each year, the Flathead National Forest hires multiple permanent full time and permanent seasonal fire management positions GW-04 through GS-10. Fire Hire is the Forest Service hiring process for permanent fire positions. This process allows applicants to apply with a single application to multiple duty locations.
CLOSED - Outreach Announcement for Fire Positions
Applicants are highly encouraged to reach out to the program contacts listed below to show interest.
The Flathead National Forest fills permanent positions in fire management through Fire Hire events. The jobs listed below were open in USAjobs.gov from August 22 – September 23, 2025, for the 2026 fire season.
Forests may immediately backfill positions that become vacant in the process. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all positions and duty locations they are interested in even if they are not currently vacant.
Flathead National Forest Program Contacts
| Contact | Program | Phone Number | Duty Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Butler | Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger Districts | (406)-387-3802 | ryan.butler@usda.gov | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Jim Flint | Spotted Bear Ranger District | (406)-758-6471 | James.Flint@usda.gov | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Seth Schaub | Flathead Helitack | (406)-897-4060 | seth.schaub@usda.gov | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Brett Pargman | Swan Lake Ranger District | (406)-837-7549 | brett.pargman@usda.gov | Bigfork, MT |
| Sarah Whetzel | Kalispell Interagency Dispatch | (406)-758-5330 | sarah.whetzel@usda.gov | Kalispell, MT |
| Justin Kaber | Tally Lake Ranger District | (406)-758-3532 | justin.kaber@usda.gov | Kalispell, MT |
| Matt Delaney | Flathead Interagency Hotshot Crew | (406)-387-3895 | matthew.m.delaney@usda.gov | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Brett Pargman | Great Northern Initial Attack Crew | (406)-837-7549 | brett.pargman@usda.gov | Bigfork, MT |
| Jason Monroe | Wildland Fire Module Crew | (406)-758-6461 | jason.monroe@usda.gov | Hungry Horse, MT |
Positions and Vacancy Announcement Numbers
| Duty Location | Announcement Number | Position | Wildfire Grade Salary | Contact | Known Vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork, Kalispell | 26-FIRE-P1R146-AFEO-56DH | Assistant Fire Engine Operator (AFEO) | 5/6 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | Kalispell, MT |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork, Kalispell | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ENGSRFF-45DH | Engine Senior Firefighter | 4/5 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | Kalispell, MT Hungry Horse, MT |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork | 26-FIRE-P1R146-HCREW-56DH | Handcrew, Wildland Fire Module, and IHC Lead | 5/6 | Brett Pargman, Jason Monroe, Shawn Borgen | 5/6 Squad Leader (2) - Bigfork, MT |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork | 26-FIRE-P1R146-IHCHCRW-45DH | IHC, Handcrew, and Wildland Fire Module Senior Firefighter | 4/5 | Shawn Borgen, Brett Pargman, Jason Monroe | IHC - Hungry Horse, MT |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE- P1VA-HTKSRFF-45DH | Helitack Senior Firefighter | 4/5 | Seth Schaub | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork, Kalispell | 26-FIRE-P1R146-FFUEL-8DH | Senior Fuels Technician | 8 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork, Kalispell | 26-FIRE-P1R146-DFUEL-67DH | District Fuels Technician | 6/7 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IHCSQLR-67DH | IHC Squad Leader | 6/7 | Shawn Borgen | |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HTKSQLR-67DH | Helitack Squad Leader | 6/7 | Seth Schaub | |
| Kalispell, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R146-IADIS-4567DH | Initial Attack Dispatcher | 4/5/6/7 | Sarah Whetzel | Kalispell, MT |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork, Kalispell | 26-FIRE-P1R146-FEOH-67DH | Fire Engine Operator (FEO) | 6/7 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | Bigfork, MT Hungry Horse, MT |
| Bigfork, Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE- P1VA-HCREWT2-67DH | Handcrew Asst. Supervisor & WFM Squad Leader | 6/7 | Brett Pargman, Jason Monroe | Handcrew Assis. Sup - Bigfork, MT |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork, Kalispell | 26-P1VA-PREV2-67DH | Fire Prevention Technician | 6/7 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | Bigfork, MT |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE- P1VA-SHDCREW-78DH | Handcrew & Wildland Fire Module Supervisor | 7/8 | Brett Pargman, Jason Monroe | |
| Hungry Horse, Bigfork, Kalispell | 26-FIRE- P1R146-SFEOH-78DH | Supervisory Engine Captain | 7/8 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IHCASST-78DH | IHC Assistant Superintendent | 7/8 | Shawn Borgen | |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HLTAKMGR-78DH | Helitack Assistant Manager | 7/8 | Seth Schaub | |
| Kalispell, MT | 26-FIRE- P1R1-DISPCM-89DH | Assistant Center Manager | 8/9 | Sarah Whetzel | |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE- P1R146-DFUELS-89DH | District AFMO – Fuels | 8/9 | Jim Flint | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ADZAFMOH-89DH | District AFMO – Operations (High Complexity) | 8/9 | Ryan Butler | |
| Bigfork and Kalispell, MT | 26-FIRE-P1GVA-ADZFMOM-89DH | District AFMO-Operations (Moderate Complexity) | 8/9 | Ranger District corresponding to your interest | |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HLTAKMGR-9DH | Helitack Manager | 9 | Seth Schaub | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Hungry Horse, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IHCSUPT-10DH | IHC Superintendent | 10 | Ryan Butler |
Outreach Response
Flathead National Forest Fire Hire Outreach Form
Individuals interested in any of the positions listed above are encouraged to complete the outreach form and submit it to the designated contact for the Flathead National Forest.