There are a few things about the hit television series “Fire Country” that may be misleading.

A CL-215 water bomber makes a drop on a Minnesota forest fire as a wildland firefighter looks on. The Department of Natural Resources is looking to hire seasonal fire crews for what could be an early spring fire season in 2024. (Minnesota DNR)

First, while it’s true that some firefighting companies and agencies use work-release convicts in their crews, most wildland firefighters are law-abiding folks.

Second, when it comes to fighting wildfires, there’s generally more hard work and soot than glamour or danger.

With that out of the way, anyone who thinks it still might be cool to help put wildfires out, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a job for you.

The DNR is hiring wildland firefighters, often called smokechasers, for the upcoming fire season — which in Minnesota could start in March this year due to the low snow totals and dry conditions.

You won’t get rich at $15.15 per hour, but you’ll have the satisfaction of helping preserve Minnesota forests and the property of people who live in them.

Many wildland firefighters across the nation are full-time employees of state and federal natural resource agencies — foresters, fish and wildlife technicians, trails and parks employees — who sign up to fight fires when needed.

Others are full-time firefighters, experts in their field, who travel around the country when and where needed, “hotshots” who are often on the front lines.

In Minnesota, rural fire departments are also a big part of the wildland firefighting effort, especially when structures are threatened.

But another cadre of smokechasers are part-time, temporary employees added during fire season when things get dry and start burning.

No experience is necessary, extensive training is provided, schedules are flexible and jobs are available across the state, probably near your home. Smokechasers work on a called-when-needed basis.

But be warned, the DNR suggests applicants have “a willingness to work long hours under difficult conditions.” Smokechasers must be able to pass a work capacity test by being able to walk 2 miles within 30 minutes while wearing a 25-pound vest or backpack.

If you are interested, contact a DNR forestry office wildfire official near you:

Aitkin, glendon.nyberg@state.mn.us, 218-429-3024
Backus, craig.schultz@state.mn.us, 218-203-4432
Baudette, mark.mcdonald@state.mn.us, 218-395-6039
Bemidji, ben.lang@state.mn.us, 218-308-2067
Cambridge, lisa.mueller@state.mn.us, 763-284-7206
Cloquet, john.furr@state.mn.us, 218-514-4462
Deer River, tom.heffernan@state.mn.us, 218-542-2953
Hibbing, nathan.eiting@state.mn.us, 218-735-3959
Lewiston, michael.wachholz@state.mn.us, 651-299-4037
Little Falls, jason.kern@state.mn.us, 320-232-1074
Littlefork, jon.mcdonald@state.mn.us, 218-598-8194
Park Rapids, mike.lichter@state.mn.us, 218-732-3309
Sandstone, christopher.henkel@state.mn.us, 320-216-7560
Tower, joseph.weflen@state.mn.us, 218-300-7823
Two Harbors, aaron.mielke@state.mn.us, 218-387-6031
Warroad, adam.fisher@state.mn.us, 218-386-1304, ext. 308

Wildfire team leaders

For people who already have wildland fire training, the DNR is also hiring some crew team leaders.

For these leadership positions, some wildfire experience or education is required. These are full-time, permanent, but seasonal positions represented by the AFSCME union. They include state employee benefits like paid holidays, vacation and sick leave.

Leader positions pay $18.50 to $23.97 per hour and are available in Brainerd, Eveleth, Grand Rapids, Aitkin, Deer River, Hill City, McGrath, Orr, Tower and Warroad.

Apply before Feb. 20 on the Minnesota State Careers website at mn.gov/mmb/careers/search-for-jobs under Job IDs 72864 and 72865. You must be a National Wildfire Coordinating Group Firefighter Type 2 and have either two months of wildland firefighting experience or an associate degree with an emphasis in wildland firefighting. You also must be able to pass the work capacity test at a moderate level and be able to obtain a commercial driver’s license.

For more information, email Clarissa Spicer at clarissa.spicer@state.mn.us.

For more information about all wildland firefighter positions, go to dnr.state.mn.us/careers/smokefire.html.

Did you know?

Spring — usually April and May, depending on where you are in the state — is Minnesota’s busiest wildfire season, especially during dry and windy periods before grasses, shrubs and trees leaf out with green foliage. Winters with less snow (like this one) often lead to springs with more and earlier fires. Last year’s dead and dry grass and leaves make perfect kindling for fires to grow. Depending on conditions, dry summers and autumns also can be busy for fires, especially in the far north of the state.

In Minnesota, 98.2% of all wildfires are caused by humans. Most of those, 38%, are small fires that escape, such as brush piles and burn barrels. Others are from errant cigarette butts, campfires, sparks from ATVs or logging equipment, trains and other vehicles. Arson is the second-leading cause of wildfires in Minnesota at 20.6%. Only 1.8% of Minnesota wildfires are caused by lightning, usually in July, August and September.

In 2023, the Minnesota Incident Command System reported 813 wildfires that burned across 8,663 acres — a relatively mild fire season thanks to record snow on the ground in many areas into April. Still, despite a cool, snowy and rainy April, last season’s largest fires were recorded in Marshall County between April 30 and May 3 within 10 miles of each other — the Berg Fire at 1,725 acres and the Thief Lake Fire at 1,702 acres.

Sources: Minnesota Incident Command System, Minnesota Interagency Fire Center

Related Articles

First deer tick of 2024 spotted near Rosemount by Metropolitan Mosquito Control District

St. Paul company to debut new teardrop trailer at Twin Cities RV Super Show this weekend

Skywatch: Winter stargazing at its best in February

Warm weather, lack of snow plague racers in Arrowhead Ultra 135 in northern Minnesota

Non-winter’s unsafe ice scrubs annual Isle Royale wolf/moose survey