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Fire & Aviation Technician

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry

Cambridge, Minnesota

Job Type Permanent
Salary $24.84 – $34.84 /hourly; $51,866 – $72,746 /annually
Benefits As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.
Deadline Oct 12, 2026
Min. Experience 5+ years

Job Summary:

MN DNR—Division of Forestry (DOF) is hiring a talented individual to join its dynamic wildfire aviation team as their  Fire & Aviation Technician. Based in Cambridge, MN, this position exists to implement DOF fire aviation and training tasks at the statewide and Area administrative levels to ensure wildfires are suppressed in a safe, efficient, and effective manner in accordance with division policy and procedure.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Assist with statewide helicopter operations, fire training, pre-suppression and suppression activities to promote safety, efficiency, and effectiveness. 
  • Implement pre-suppression tasks at the Area administrative level in preparations for routine fire suppression operations.
  • Suppress wildfires at the statewide and Area administrative level to minimize losses to human life, property, and natural resources.
  • Lead helicopter modules and other fire personnel in fire suppression, training, and pre-suppression activities.
  • Coordinate and conduct natural resource management activities such as aerial application.
  • Conduct silviculture activities and maintenance of roads/trails.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 4 seasons of wildland fire suppression experience.

PLUS

National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualified prior to appointment:

  • Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) (or ICT4 Trainee)
  • Single Resource Boss – Helicopter Manager (HMGB)

Completed training prior to appointment: 

  • S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighter
  • S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
  • S-131 Advanced Firefighter/Squad Boss
  • S-200 Initial Attack IC
  • S-230 Crew Boss
  • S-290 Intermediate Fire Behavior
  • S-271 Helicopter Crew Member
  • S-372 Helicopter Manager

Additional minimum qualifications:

  • Knowledge of wildland firefighting techniques, fire equipment, fire behavior, fuel models.
  • Knowledge of fire and incident management including fire line leadership, suppression techniques, wildfire behavior, initial attack, extended attack, air operations, fire-line control, equipment operation and capabilities, personnel capabilities, mop-up, and fire line safety so that fires can be effectively suppressed.
  • Ability to use maps, legal descriptions and GPS so that fires and access routes can be quickly located.
  • Ability to maintain and organize the operation and maintenance of fire line equipment (including chainsaws) so that the equipment functions well in fire suppression activities.
  • Ability to complete assigned trainings.
  • Computer skills sufficient to keep records, write reports, and communicate and collaborate with partners and colleagues using various applications (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, OneDrive, SharePoint, Adobe, ArcGIS).

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Helibase Manager (HEBM).
  • Extended Attack Incident Commander (ICT3).
  • M-410 Facilitative Instructor.
  • Experience coordinating aerial application projects.
How To Apply

For a full job posting and to apply, go to https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/ and search for Job ID 97165 or click the following link: Fire and Aviation Technician

Questions? Contact Darren Neuman at darren.neuman@state.mn.us  or (218) 322-2722.

When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.

When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.

Category Forestry , General / Stewardship
Tags Wildland Firefighter , GIS