N.C. Forest Service - Types of Jobs

Service foresters provide professional oversight and expertise in the division's total forest management program. They work with multiple counties in an assigned N.C. Forest Service district to develop, protect and manage the multiple resources of North Carolina's forests. This includes providing technical advise to landowners concerning reforesting and maintaining forested lands. Residency is required within the district in which the service forester is assigned. A valid NC drivers license is required, as well as North Carolina forester registration. A four-year degree in forest management from a college or university, and two years of technical forestry work or an equivalent combination of education and experience are required.

If there are no qualified applicants, trainees are considered.

The assistant county ranger is a technician who assists the county ranger in all areas of responsibility including fire control, forest management, insect and disease control, and forestry education. The assistant county ranger must have an associate degree of science in forest management or a high school education with at least three years of NCFS experience and have completed an in-service ranger training program. Individuals who do not have sufficient experience may be employed initially as trainees.

Assistant county rangers must have good general knowledge of forestry activities, be in good physical condition and have the ability to organize, instruct and supervise those who work for them. They must possess considerable knowledge of forest fire control techniques and forest management practices. Additionally, assistant county rangers must reside in the county to which they are assigned.

The NCFS county ranger is generally classified as a forestry technician and has responsibility for the forestry program in the county to which they are assigned. This includes fire control, forest management, insect and disease control, and forestry education.

The county ranger supervises the assistant county ranger(s), forest fire equipment operators and temporary fire tower operators, smokechasers, crew leaders and forest fire crewmen in the county. The ranger is the link between the N. C. Forest Service and the local volunteer fire departments, training these departments in the suppression of wildfires.

The county ranger is guided by the policies and procedures set forth by the State of North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Each ranger's work is evaluated and supervised by a forester.

The county ranger must be a graduate of a two-year technical school with an associate degree of science in forest management or have an equivalent combination of education and experience as well as three years of in-service training, and they must complete the in-service ranger training program. County rangers must also reside in the county to which they are assigned.

Forest fire equipment operators (FFEOs) operate a crawler tractor equipped with a fire line plow. FFEOs do the mechanical and maintenance work on their equipment and assist the district mechanic when needed. Equipment operators may overhaul and repair both gasoline and diesel engines, and hydraulic systems. They attend both basic and advanced equipment operator schools and other in-service training programs. FFEOs must be in good physical condition, have a high school education, a NC commercial drivers license, at least one year of experience in heavy equipment operation, and they must reside in the county to which they are assigned.

Applicants for this position are required to pass a drug screening and are subject to random drug testing while employed.

Smokechasers are seasonal employees, normally working for the N. C. Forest Service only during the spring and fall fire seasons, roughly five to eight months per year. The smokechaser provides additional help during times of severe fire activity. When a possible wildfire is discovered by a fire tower, patrol plane or citizen, the smokechaser is sent to the reported fire. If the smoke is coming from a legal fire, he will check the person's burning permit and advise him or her of proper burning practices. If the smoke is coming from a wildfire, the smokechaser will initiate suppression action and will remain at the scene until the fire is out. Smokechasers must also be in good physical condition and have a good knowledge of forest fire control techniques. A high school education is preferred.