INTERMITTENT FOREST FIRE OBSERVER

Code: 15847 State Competitive Range: O13 (FY 2027)

Salary: $45,874.33 - $66,293.93/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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 supervision of an Assistant Division Forest Firewarden or other supervisor in the Department of Environmental Protection, is responsible in a fire tower for detecting/locating/reporting forest fires to protect life and property from wildfire; when required, performs forest fire suppression, presuppression, and prevention; performs maintenance work; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Detects, locates, and reports forest fires within the tower area.
• Operates a two-way radio at a control point/fire tower of the Forest Fire Service radio communications system; transmits/receives communications essential to official activities in accord with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations/policies.
• Transmits and receives radio and telephone communications directly related to public safety and the protection of life and property from wildfire.
• Operates fire location devices and weather instruments, applies necessary formulae, and reports daily meteorological and fire danger data including but not limited to wind velocity, temperature, relative humidity, spread index, buildup index, fine fuel moisture, wet/dry bulb readings, and cloud formations in accord with the National Fire Danger Reporting System.
• Contacts flight personnel for an immediate response air attack to reported fires.
• As a member of a crew, participates in prescribed burning, forest fire suppression, and presuppression work.
• Maintains an accurate log for the tower station, recording fire locations, radio messages, telephone messages, and weather observations.
• Sends and relays messages and dispatches personnel/equipment under direction of an Incident Commander (person in charge of incident/fire).
• Submits reports as required.
• Is responsible for general maintenance of towers, grounds, equipment, and firefighting hand tools; assists with maintenance/construction of mobile forest firefighting equipment and suppression vehicles; may operate trucks, maintenance shop equipment, and other forest fire equipment.
• Constructs and maintains firelines, roads/trails, and airdrop bases when not required in the fire tower.
• Participates in forest fire prevention activities/programs; constructs and operates fire prevention exhibits.
• May be required to check, file, record, and obtain data for evaluation.
• Maintains records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

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.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the assigned area's topography, roads, trails, water resources, and fuel types after a period of training.
• Knowledge of the working plan of the Forest Fire Service including the chain of command, authority, objectives, and goals after a period of training.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on FCC rules, regulations, and policies.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply information on the National Fire Danger Reporting System.
• Ability to attain the certification needed to train volunteers for the NJ Forest Fire Service.
• Ability to maintain state/national standards of physical fitness necessary to qualify for wildfire suppression as a firefighter.
• Ability to read and interpret maps.
• Ability to read and interpret forest fire laws and participate in training programs.
• Ability to recognize and report situations/conditions which are potentially dangerous, and remain calm and decisive in emergency situations.
• Ability to understand and employ the Incident Command System used to manage emergencies after a period of training.
• Ability to estimate the size/distance/characteristics of a fire and to give clear, accurate reports after a period of training.
• Ability to operate and read meteorological instruments and report findings accurately after a period of training.
• Ability to keep a log for a tower station, and record fire locations, radio/telephone messages, and weather observations.
• Ability to work in a remote area.
• Ability to perform various types of light/heavy maintenance work.
• Ability to maintain records and files.
• Ability 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, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform 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 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.
• SPECIAL NOTE
• The intermittent designation shall be utilized only where the work responsibilities are characterized by unpredictable work schedules which do not meet normal criteria of regular, year- round full-time or part-time assignments. Such category is not to displace or be used in place of regular full-time or part-time employees.
• Assignment of Work
• Assignment of work hours to intermittent employees shall be based on managerial needs and shall be limited to work that is appropriate to the class title.
• Furlough and Recall
• Whenever it is necessary to furlough intermittent employees, furloughing will be done in the inverse order of seniority based on official records at the end of the last pay period. A furlough means that an intermittent employee cannot be scheduled for work within the next week. Reasonable advance written notice of furlough action shall be given to the employee. A furlough will not be considered a layoff and will not require the issuance of the forty-five (45) day notice. The seniority organization unit for purposes of furlough selection will be employees currently working in a designated work unit, prior to use by the appointing authority, designated work units must be submitted to and approved by the NJ Department of Personnel. Seniority shall be determined by the number of regular hours worked by the intermittent employee. Recall from furlough will be made in seniority order from the most senior to the least senior employee from among furloughed employees who are assigned within a designated work unit which may be the local office and/or satellite office. In cases of equal seniority, the tie will be broken by determining the number of hours the employees were in pay status under special service during the last two (2) years immediately preceding their conversion to an intermittent title. Recall of employees may be extended on a regional or statewide basis if the recall list for the work unit has been exhausted.
• When the recall procedure is extended beyond the work unit, or when the recall is for less than four hours of work, the termination actions listed below will not apply when the intermittent employees cannot be contacted or refuses an offer of recall. However, when an offer of recall is accepted to a work unit other than the one from which the employee was furloughed, the new work unit will become the employee's seniority organization unit for future furlough and recall actions.
• Recall actions shall be initiated during the first two (2) hours or the last two (2) hours of the workday. If the department is unable to contact the employee during these times, the next employee on the recall list will be called until a sufficient number has been secured. If a department is unable to contact an employee on two (2) consecutive occasions, the employee shall be notified in writing of the specific dates and times the contacts were made. Employees will be given five (5) calendar days from date of receipt to advise of their current availability for future scheduling. Failure to respond as directed shall be considered a resignation. If on the next occasion the same employee is unavailable, this also shall be considered a resignation.
• Intermittent employees who are contacted and refuse an offer of recall for reasons other than verified illness, disability, or approved leave may be resigned.
• CODES: 12/O13 - RKR/jmr 5/23/98

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

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.

SPECIAL

Appointees must 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 obtain a certification as an Instructor-Trainer issued by the NJ Forest Fire Service.

Appointees will be required to successfully complete forest fire training courses and maintain qualifications as a forest firefighter. Failure to maintain qualifications will result in progressive disciplinary action.