POSITION: Fuels Reduction Technician

PRIMARY ROLES – Perform day-to-day project work including fuels reduction and forest health, ecosystem restoration, environmental compliance, and watershed health projects.

TYPE – Seasonal Full Time

LOCATION – Quincy, CA

INTRODUCTION

This opportunity is for a Fuels Reduction Technician working primarily on the Plumas National Forest as well as various private land throughout Plumas County. Projects will complete forest health restoration and fire mitigation activities in areas where high severity fire has occurred, or within dense forests that need to be managed to prevent high severity fire in the future.

Technical duties include manual labor by removal of trees with use of chainsaws and swamping/piling trees and brush. Three (3) seasonal positions from approximately April/May to November 2026. Start and end dates may change due to snowpack and weather conditions. Compensation is $23-25/hour DOE, ~40hrs per week, on a 4/10’s schedule.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Forest thinning and fire mitigation: operate chainsaws and fall trees up to 24in diameter
• Swamping behind chainsaw operator, piling woody biomass into piles
• Fuels reduction and wildfire recovery, creating defensible space, and prepping units for prescribed fire
• Daily maintenance of chainsaws including cleaning powerheads and bars, sharpening chains, and troubleshooting technical issues.
• Potential to act as contract inspector on reforestation projects
• Potential to assist on prescribed burns

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications: The successful applicant for the position must possess the following minimum qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED
• A valid driver’s license and a safe driving record. (4-wheel drive experience preferred.)
• Experience and/or training with chainsaw usage and maintenance.
• Physical capability and endurance to conduct fieldwork in remote settings under strenuous conditions, including the ability to carry up to 50 lbs. over rough terrain and hike for an extended length of time in extreme heat.
• Ability and willingness to work on a team, effectively communicate, and follow detailed field protocols
• Ability and willingness to work in inclement weather, and occasionally work on holidays and weekends.
• Ability to adhere to workplace safety procedures.

Desired Qualifications: Ideally, the successful applicant will possess the following skills:

• Experience working a labor-intensive job (preferably: trails, forestry or conservation but not limited to)
• Knowledge of the local ecology: tree species, flora, and fauna
• Experience hiking in the Sierra Nevada or similar high elevation areas.
• Knowledge of the fundamentals of natural resource management, forestry, and ecology
• Ability to be well organized and handle occasionally challenging field logistics.
• Experience and/or training with prescribed fire and underburning techniques.
• First Aid training (Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification: preferred but not required)
• Red Card certified

This position requires long hours working in steep mountainous terrain and inclement weather, confidence using a chainsaw in this terrain is a must. Enthusiasm to assist in forestry management is a must.

Opportunities to implement prescribed fire is possible. If participating in prescribed burn activities: Technicians must provide their own fire boots meeting these criteria: 8-inch high Vibram sole leather boots. This gear is not a requirement for the position, but it is a requirement for this potential job duty.

COMPENSATION

Financial compensation is $23-25 per hour depending on experience. Benefits include paid sick time, a cell phone stipend, a boot stipend, and vacation time accrual after six months of employment, as well as a flexible work schedule in a fast-paced, positive work environment.