Fire Hire 2026
The US Forest Service Northern Region is outreaching for the yearly hiring event known as “Fire Hire”. Announcements will be opening soon in USAJOBS for many permanent wildland firefighter positions for the 2026 fire year. The Lolo National Forest is hiring multiple permanent full time and permanent seasonal fire management positions GW-04 through GS-10.
Outreach Announcement for Fire Positions PHASE 1
The Lolo National Forest will soon begin filling permanent positions in fire management in PHASE 1 of the 2026 Fire Hire. The jobs listed below will be open in USAjobs.gov from August 22 – September 23, 2025. 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.
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.
Applicants are highly encouraged to reach out to the program contacts listed below to show interest.
Lolo National Forest Program Contacts
| Contact | Program | Phone Number | Duty Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Nepstad | Missoula Helitack | 406-329-4974 | andrew.nepstad@usda.gov | Missoula, MT |
| Rachel Simpson | Missoula Interagency Dispatch Center | 406-829-7050 | rachel.simpson@usda.gov | Missoula, MT |
| Stryker Clark | Missoula Ranger District | 406-329-3852 | stryker.clark@usda.gov | Missoula, MT |
| Jacob Fallis | Ninemile Ranger District | 406-626-5419 | jacon.n.fallis@usda.gov | Huson, MT |
| Daniel Stevens | Plains Ranger District | 406-826-4325 | daniel.t.stevens@usda.gov | Plains, MT |
| Robert Spence | Seeley Ranger District | 406-865-0262 | robert.spence@usda.gov | Seeley, MT |
| John "Teo" DiGiando | Superior Ranger District | 406-531-9428 | john.digiando@usda.gov | Superior, MT |
| Shawn Faiella | Lolo Interagency Hotshot Crew | 406-529-4893 | shawn.faiella@usda.gov | Missoula, MT |
Current Vacancies to be Filled on the Lolo National Forest During Phase 1 Fire Hire
| Positions | Grade | Duty Location | Announcement Number | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asst. Helicopter Manager | GW 7/8 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HLTAKMGR-78DH | Andrew Nepstad |
| Senior Firefighter (Helicopter) | GW 4/5 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HTKSRFF-45DH | Andrew Nepstad |
| Asst. IHC Supt. | GW 7/8 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IHCASST-78DH | Shawn Faiella |
| Senior Firefighter | GW 4/5 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-IHCRW-45DH | Shawn Faiella |
| Asst. Center Mgr (Dispatch) | GW 8/9 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-ADISPCM-89DH | Rachel Simpson |
| IA Dispatcher | GW 4/5/6/7 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IADISP-4567DH | Rachel Simpson |
| Asst. Fire Engine Operator | GW 5/6 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-AFEO-56DH | Stryker Clark |
| Senior Fuels Tech. | GW 6/7 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-FFUELS-8DH | Stryker Clark |
| Senior Firefighter (Engine) | GW 4/5 | Missoula, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ENGSFF-45DH | Stryker Clark |
| Senior Firefighter (Engine) | GW 4/5 | Huson, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ENGSFF-45DH | Jacob Fallis |
| Fuels Tech | GW 6/7 | Plains, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-DFUEL-67DH | Daniel Stevens |
| Asst. Fire Engine Operator (2) | GW 5/6 | Plains, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-AFEO-56DH | Daniel Stevens |
| Senior Firefighter | GW 4/5 | Plains, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ENGSFF-45DH | Daniel Stevens |
| Fuels AFMO | GW 8/9 | Seeley Lake, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R146-DFLS-89DH | Robert Spence |
| Fuels Tech | GW 6/7 | Seeley Lake, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-DFUEL-67DH | Robert Spence |
| Asst. Fire Engine Operator | GW 5/6 | Seeley Lake, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-AFEO-56DH | Robert Spence |
| Senior Firefighter (Engine) | GW 4/5 | Seeley Lake, MT | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ENGSFF-45DH | Robert Spence |
Outreach Response
Lolo National Forest Fire Hire Outreach Notice
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 Lolo National Forest.
Positions and Vacancy Announcement Numbers
Applicants are encouraged to apply to all positions and duty stations on the Lolo National Forest listed below that are of interest, even if the position is currently filled.
| POSITIONS | ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER |
|---|---|
| Initial Attack Dispatcher GW-04/05/06/07 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IADIS-4567DH |
| Dispatch Assistant Center Manager GW-08/09 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-ADISPCM-89DH |
| Entry Level Firefighter GW-03/04 | 26-FIRE-P1R14-FFTR-34DH |
| Senior Firefighter GW-04/05 | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ENGSRFF-45DH |
| Assistant Fire Engine Operator GW-05/06 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-AFEO-56DH |
| Fire Engine Operator GW-06/07 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-FEOH-67DH |
| Supervisory Fire Engine Operator GW-07/08 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-SFEOH-78DH |
| Fuels Technician GW-06/07 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-DFUEL-67DH |
| Senior Fuels Technician GW-08 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-FFUELS-8DH |
| Entry Level Firefighter GW-03/04 | 26-FIRE-P1R14-FFTR-34DH |
| Handcrew Senior Firefighter GW-04/05 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-IHCHCRW-45DH |
| Handcrew Squad Leader GW-05/06 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-HCREW-56DH |
| Handcrew Assistant GW-06/07 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HCREWT2-67DH |
| Handcrew Supervisor GW-07/08 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-SHDCRW-78DH |
| Helitack Senior Firefighter GW-04/05 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HTKSRFF-45DH |
| Helitack Squad Leader GW-06/07 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HTKSQLR-67DH |
| Helitack Assistant Manager GW-07/08 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HLTAKMGR-78DH |
| Helitack Manager GW-09 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-HLTAKMGR-9DH |
| Entry Level Firefighter- GW-03/04 | 26-FIRE-P1R14-FFTR-34DH |
| Hotshot Senior Firefighter GW-04/05 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-IHCHCRW-45DH |
| Hotshot Lead Firefighter GW-05/06 | 26-FIRE-P1R14610-HCREW-56DH |
| Hotshot Squad LeaderGW-06/07 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IHCSQLR-67DH |
| Hotshot IHC Assistant Superintendent GW-07/08 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IHCASST-78DH |
| Hotshot IHC Superintendent GW-10 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-IHCSUPT-10DH |
| Zone Prevention Technician GW-06/07 | 26 -FIRE-P1VA-PREV2-67DH |
| District/Zone AFMO (High Complexity) GW-08/09 | 26-FIRE-P1R146-ADZAFMOH-89DH |
| District/Zone AFMO (Moderate Complexity) GW-08/09 | 26-FIRE-P1VA-ADZFMOM-89DH |
| District/Zone AFMO Fuels(Supervisory) GW-08/09 | 26-FIRE-P1R146-DFUELS-89DH |
| Forestry Technician-Wildland Fire Apprentice GW-03 | 26-FIRE-P1R14-WFAP-345DH |
Process and Timeline
Applicants are encouraged to apply for multiple locations (where they would accept a position if offered), even if positions for certain locations in which you are interested are not currently vacant. Vacancies may occur during the hiring process and could be filled during the selection week.
To be considered for these announcements during the centralized fire hire event, applicants must complete the application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date.
Applicants may receive qualification review notices from USAJOBS/HR in this timeframe.
Monitor your email for an automated request to provide references, and notify your supervisors they will be getting reference check requests.
All applicants who have applied to the announcements on or before the listed closing date and are found to be qualified will be referred for consideration. Applicants may check the status of their application during this time in USAJobs.
Representatives from each unit will make recommendations for hiring. It is critical to be available via phone and email during this time.
Selected applicants will be processed through onboarding - including personnel security, background checks, drug testing, etc., as required.
Report to duty.