Forest Fire Prevention Specialists


Overview

Forest Fire Prevention Specialists

Introduction

Forest fire prevention specialists identify and assess fire hazards in forests and other wildland areas that may cause danger to humans, wildlife, natural areas, and homes and other structures; recommend ways to reduce or eliminate fire hazards; and report fire conditions to central command. They are also known as forest fire inspectors. There are approximately 2,400 forest fire prevention specialists in the United States.

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$54,080

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Employment Prospects

Excellent

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Minimum Education Level

Some Postsecondary Training|Apprenticeship


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Experience

Previous experience as a firefighter commonly required


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Skills

Interpersonal|Leadership|Organizational


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Personality Traits

Helpful|Outgoing|Problem-Solving

Earnings

Salaries for forest fire prevention specialists depend on the employer, the size of the department or organization, and the worker’s job title and level of experience. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists earned median annual salaries of $54,080 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Ten percent earned less than $35,000, and the highest paid 10 percent earned more ...

Work Environment

Specialists spend a considerable amount of time outdoors patrolling and inspecting forests, prairies, grasslands, savannas, and other ecosystems in which there is a strong risk of fire. Some of these areas are extremely rugged. As a result, inspectors and prevention specialists have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all careers. In addition to working outdoors in all types o...

Outlook

The career of forest fire inspector and prevention specialist ranks among the fastest-growing careers in the United States from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Job opportunities are expected to increase by 16 percent during this time span. "Forest fires now result in nearly 6 million more hectares [14,826,322.8 acres] of tree cover loss per year than they did in 2001," ...