SECTION FOREST FIREWARDEN
Section Forest Firewarden is a competitive state title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
It expects an associate's degree, 1 year of relevant experience, and a commercial driver's license. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $63,663 to $92,953, and state payroll currently lists about 22 people in the title, most of them at Environmental Protection.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Section Forest Firewarden appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Environmental Protection.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Environmental Protection | 22 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 22 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $84,150. The agencies employing the most are:
- Environmental Protection (22)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of an Assistant Division Forest Firewarden or other supervisor in the Department of Environmental Protection, is responsible for the preparation and implementation of forest fire suppression, pre-suppression, and prevention programs designed to protect life and property from wildfire for one section or not less than 109,000 acres of state and private land; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Prepares forest fire management long and short range fire suppression and pre-suppression plans including studies and revisions of resource inventories, plan of organization, attack plans, and local cooperating agreements. Makes recommendations for capital improvements and budgetary requirements. Provides technical planning assistance and training to intra- sectional cooperating agencies and plans, organizes, controls, coordinates, and motivates the section forest fire protection and management effort. Actively engages in aggressive forest fire suppression actions requiring extreme physical exertion and stress for extended periods of time. Participates in and completes studies including fire protection analysis and damage appraisals for residents, national fire danger rating systems, detection systems, logistics, fuel modification, and engineering projects, utilizing computerized economic analysis and "LANDSAT" or high altitude photo mapping interpretation. Participates in work programs involving forest management projects, information and education, training of regular and cooperating personnel, organization and land use inspections; participates in the application of the Burning Permit Law, and provides recommendations for restricted use of posting closures. Assigns workload and specific duties to staff; provides technical advice and assistance; reviews work performance. Provides training and certifications to new recruits and verifies their eligibility to volunteer their services to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Determines, prepares, and activates action plans necessary to reduce hazards in areas of excessive risk; proposes action on incendiary fires; participates in the preparation of plans for the use of prescribed fire, control of railroad hazards, roads and highway maintenance, dumping restrictions, brush and trash removal. Attends training courses established by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to keep abreast of current techniques required in fire suppression; relays information to and trains subordinates. Develops and activates plans with state and private land-owners in the application of prescribed fire for the purpose of hazard reduction. Assists with the installation, evaluation, or termination of fire weather stations. Engages in patrol activities in high hazard and risk areas; directs suppression forces actively engaged in fire control activities to ensure compliance with performance and safety standards set forth in suppression plans. Conducts prompt and aggressive investigation of wildfires to determine cause; prepares and maintains reports, maps, photographs, and other evidence for prosecution; makes recommendations to effectively recover fire suppression costs. Conducts prompt and aggressive investigation procedures for equipment accidents, complaints, vandalism, or other complementary problems which may constitute a breach of legal or environmental restrictions. Assists law enforcement agencies in apprehension action; consults with legal authorities for assistance with procedural determination; participates in court and settlement actions; works with juvenile authorities; cooperates with law enforcement agencies in securing compliance with forest fire regulations. Makes recommendations to courts regarding severity of penalties with values lost and/or threatened in accordance with fair market value. Issues summons and makes arrests, without warrant, any person whom he/she has probable cause to believe is committing a violation of the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Act (Title 13). Participates in gathering forest fire damage appraisal data and statistics; conducts reviews of problem fire analysis; prepares narratives for reports. Coordinates with state, county, and municipal agencies to establish a plan to respond to emergency incidents. Keeps actively participating parties informed of special fire situations, attends meetings, and helps correlate plans and multiple use policies of agencies involved. Assists in insect and disease control programs designed to decrease the risk of forest fire hazard. Utilizes aerial attack and aerial detection forces in forest fire suppression. Participates in vehicular preventive maintenance programs; maintains safety and security standards; conducts the section fire prevention sign program and maintains records on utilization. Maintains proficiency in forest fire suppression at the level mandated by national standards under the Incident Command System. Engages in the protection of state and privately owned land. Conducts periodic test and equipment studies to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of forest fire equipment. Conducts periodic inspections and maintains current inventories of all fire suppression equipment and supplies. Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports and data summaries, studies and surveys containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations of labor and monetary costs involved in fighting forest fires. Gathers damage information with regard to environmental, structural, or other personal property losses due to wildfire. Maintains essential records and files. Will be required to learn and utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree in Forestry, Forest Management, Forest Science, Natural Resources Management, Forest Resources, or Fire Science.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience involving the prevention, pre- suppression, and/or suppression of forest fires. NOTE: Additional college credits in the above fields, up to the level of a Bachelor's degree, may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required experience. (Thirty (30) credits is equivalent to one (1) year of experience). SPECIAL NOTE: Appointees will be required to establish residence in an assigned area within thirty (30) days of appointment. (The appointee must live within the forest region assigned.) Appointees will be required to complete an internal forest fire training course administered by the Department of Environmental Protection involving the administration of laws covering the protection of forests from wildfire. Appointees must maintain qualifications as a forest fire fighter and/or show proof of Red Card Certification as a Strike Team Leader under the National Interagency Fire Qualification Systems (NIFQS) standards as established by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Failure to maintain qualifications will result in progressive disciplinary action.
License
Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey. Appointees may also be required to possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated. NOTE: The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of modern forest fire prevention, administration, and technical management methods, and their application to specific cases. Knowledge of the techniques required to participate in survey and planning work pertaining to personnel, equipment plans, resource and land use studies, and specialized planning and ground operation required to contribute to the suppression of large or serious fires. Knowledge of forest fire suppression equipment, techniques, principles, and practices. Knowledge of fire apparatus testing equipment. Ability to read, interpret, and apply statutes, laws, and administrative code pertaining to the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Act (Title 13). Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on the Incident Command System as applied to all risk emergency responses. Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on state laws and department policy regarding the theories, practices, and procedures relating to fire prevention and management. Ability to operate motorized fire suppression equipment. Ability to organize assigned technical and supervisory work and provide suitable assignments and instructions for employees and volunteer workers and to supervise the performance of their work. Ability to maintain state and national standards of physical fitness necessary to qualify for wildfire suppression. Ability to conduct wildfire damage appraisals through the application of scientific sampling and inventory methods of both understory and overstory species. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with subordinates and to instruct technical fire management, planning personnel, clerical employees, and those members of the public interested in or concerned with the work of the section. Ability to immediately analyze wildfire suppression problems and to direct efforts toward the solution of such problems. Ability to supervise pre-suppression planning, and coordinate planning contracts with civic, business, and other cooperating groups and organizations. Ability to plan, and direct basic fire management program activities and conduct administrative work involved in personnel, financial, equipment, and other records. Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communication English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. CODES: 20/P20- JMR 7/22/95