I moved up to the HQ level for one of the federal agencies some years back. The past 15 months have been brutal, and the last 6 some of the most stressful, emotionally devastating of my career.

One of the slides in my self-care deck is coming here and laughing with delight at your shitposts. You help me remember who we're going through this for. Public lands and public service are my avocation, but you all are the wind beneath my wangs.

Anyone know anything about this crew?

DEM crews are conducting prescribed burns across the state as hotter, drier conditions increase wildfire risk in New England

For the nerdy engine slugs. What is your favorite ways to utilize ejectors in real world applications? Giovanni Battista Venturi would be so proud!

Sorry for long post but I’m looking for some career advice from people with some time in fire. I’ve always been interested in medicine, fire, aviation etc. I started college and then found fire when I was 19. I decided to start working and to finish off school in the offseason. Now I’m 24 and have a biochemistry degree and 3 seasons on a great engine.

For years I had wanted to go hotshot and promised myself I would as soon as I finished school. This year I landed a perm on my dream crew. It really meant a lot to me for many personal reasons. Unfortunately last week I injured my back quite badly and had to have lumbar spine surgery yesterday. I was told I would be out at least 5-6+ months. Without enough sick leave or other options I had to resign from my position and was offered to come back next year. I was honestly devastated, I was so excited for this year and loved the guys on the crew.

This is not my first injury. I had a similar spine surgery due to a football injury when I was 17. I ended my second season early after becoming extremely ill with valley fever on an assignment and ending up in hospital. I also have a hernia in my stomach (likely due to heavy lifting on the job) that I have been trying to manage.

I studied and took the MCAT (medical school admissions test) this offseason and got a very high score. I wanted to have another option if I ever got seriously injured. Applications for medical school are about to open and after this happened I’m seriously considering applying and trying to become an emergency physician. I feel super conflicted however because I had wanted to do crew time for so long and I love this job. Fire has definitely developed me more than any other experience and given me some of my greatest memories.

Any advice or input would be super helpful

Like no overtime or H for fires you have been on, straight up missing days of overtime pay. I’m with the Feds and this is really starting to annoy me.

The people above me do the times and just say it’s an HR problem but idk man.

There’s no point in me working my ass off if I only get paid for it 50% of the time. I basically have to fight a battle to get any hours I worked over base on my paycheck.

I really love the job but the gov which is 39 Trillion in debt not paying me my GW5 overtime rate is insanity

I’m being offered an interview , What’s the opinion on this kind of a position, debating making a switch from a perm GS11 to get into the fire world. How much will I realistically be making per year, and how quickly might I be able to advance to higher positions? Worth making the switch or not?

Hoping to get on one as a seasonal next summer, I’m just having a hard time figuring out what the deal is. Some people make it sound like half of them are understaffed and losing their type 1 status, others make it sound like it’s impossible to get on one of these crews. Just looking for any insight into how difficult it might be to get hired.

For those who have worked rems as a contractor, on average how long are staying out or how many days per season, I know there are a lot of variables in this just trying to get an idea.

For reference I am a early retirement firefighter paramedic, prior to paramedic school , I did 4 years on the paid rescue team in Yosemite (Yosar) , somewhere over 50 career rescues. 23 years years as a paramedic with over 15000 pt contracts, 13 years in fire, retired as engineer after an injury. I did some time as a flight paramedic (I hated the coworkers and base toxicity). I have done a few details as a name request HECM/paramedic for USFS.

Of course i have completed the basic fire classes up to s290. Ics 100,200,300. The 480 hours of classes for fire officer in California. Plus the heavy rescue classes.

Just finished S230 and S270 is next month. My S271 isnt valid.

Also completed the CMC Rems course and low angle, and scheduled for their Arizona vortex.

I have done the Google searches so I have done some research into a few companies. My goal is to stay out as long as possible, trying to get an idea the reality of contract REMS work.

Thank you

Hey guys I'm looking at putting in for a job on the Sumter National Forest, Long Cane Ranger District. Does anybody know anything about the program? It looks like the entire engine needs to be filled, also a dozer and a FMO. Does anybody know what happened to cause so many vacancies?

I have an interview set up with Manitoba Wildfire Service this friday, and am wondering if anyone has some insight on what they might like to hear? I've heard that most MNR bases could care less about having NFPAs, is that worth bringing up?

I've got a bit of chainsaw experience from my Fire Academy as well as lots of experience camping, hiking, etc.

TIA.

Well, the Latitude National Caterer is at Sevan Cabins Fire. Tonight, there were two contractors that talked about their chicken having the wax paper still under the patty….

Welcome to salmonella season folks!