How to become a forest fire inspectors and prevention specialist
Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
What forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists do
- Relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions.
- Conduct wildland firefighting training.
- Estimate sizes and characteristics of fires, and report findings to base camps by radio or telephone.
- Direct crews working on firelines during forest fires.
- Locate forest fires on area maps, using azimuth sighters and known landmarks.
- Extinguish smaller fires with portable extinguishers, shovels, and axes.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Active Learning
Is forest fire inspectors and prevention specialist a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 12% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- California $97,370
- Utah $90,020
- Louisiana $75,480
- Oregon $73,530
- Maine $68,310
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.