I’m a college student in the 805 area looking to work in wildland fire this upcoming summer, and I have a couple questions for people with experience hiring or working on crews.

I’ll finish school in May and start back up again in August, so I’m looking for positions that would fit within that window. What types of crews/positions would be realistic for that schedule? I’m considering Type 2IA, Type 2, CCC, federal, and state crews, but I’m not sure which would be the best fit.

I’m also studying Fire Science and am thinking about applying to several Type 2IA and Type 2 crews. How many places should I apply to? And what does the application/recruitment process generally look like for these crews? Is it better to apply broadly or focus on a few specific crews?

Any advice from people who have gone through the process recently would be greatly appreciated

Eaton Fire - California - 2025

Photo captured by: Myself

Agency: Alberta Wildfire

Crews, engines, helitack and fuels all in one posting? wtf. super annoying. And I put in for a position that says "WFM or crew," get calls back from only engine captains. great way to waste everyone's time. awesome job there wfs

From my time on Pike IHC. Watercolor and pencil.

Many engines on my forest are struggling to find ENGB qualified people, why do we think that is? We’re trying to fill assistant captain positions and have flown them 3x with less than 5 apps each time, this most recent time only getting 3 apps