Summer job in forestry

[crackajeff]

I know this really doesn't have anything thing to do with anything on this site, but i graduated from high school today well I guess it would be yesterday now. But this does mean that in a few months I'll be heading to forestry school at WVU. I just got laid off from my job (all part time employees got the boot) as a parts manager in a mine equipment rebuild shop so I need a job. Does anyone have in suggestions for a summer job in something forestry related and/or any advice for somebody going into forestry?

 

[mile9socounty]

It is or is going to be fire season over on that side of the states. Look into the Forest Service or any other wildland fire fighting crews.

 

[bullbuck]

i agree,fire is decent job,lousy hours,lots of smoke but potentially good paycheck...

 

[Roy M]

Congratulations on your graduation. Welcome to the big wide world. bullbuck pretty much summed it up. Normally the initial attack crews hit the ground running mid April but they do hire mop up crews as needed. It is hard work and long hours but good work and a decent paycheque. You will be in good physical shape by the time school starts.

 

[crackajeff]

thanks. i think it sounds like a great job. i was hoping for a physically demanding job for the work out, but if it pays good that makes it even better. now all i have to do is find out how to get on a crew.

 

[Kiwilogger]

Find a hauler crew mate, and go breaking out. I think you guys here in the US call it choker setting.


:chainsawguy:

 

[crackajeff]

they dont do that in this part of the country. its all skidder logging.

 

[HS Climber]

wildland firefighting is the way to go. not very good hours but its a fun job. talk to your forestry department the state there the best to work for. good money and hard work.

 

[bullbuck]

also if you end up on a hand crew do whatever you can to be a sawyer versus a swamper,this way you can sharpen your saw skills wich will always be in demand somewhere..

 

[crackajeff]

So how do I get started? Go to my regional state forestry office and talk to them?

 

[bullbuck]

i have no idea how it is on the east coast,but with fire here it is either state, fed,or tribal,all have difrent applications...

 

[mile9socounty]

wildland firefighting is the way to go. not very good hours but its a fun job. talk to your forestry department the state there the best to work for. good money and hard work.

Not very good hours? Depends on what company you work with. I know the company that employs me year round. Or at least the try too. During fire season the guarantee us 40 hours a week. Plus if we bust fires. Oats baby!

 

[bullbuck]

well there you have it!easy as oats eh?get what you can while you can!

 

[mile9socounty]

Where there's fire. There's oats.

 

[HS Climber]

well you get alot of hours yeah. but hours like we had like 15 fires last year that were at 11pm so your there 12 hours from then working your butt off.

 

[mile9socounty]

well you get alot of hours yeah. but hours like we had like 15 fires last year that were at 11pm so your there 12 hours from then working your butt off.

Chitty man. Normally when we get a lightning bust down here. We are out all nice putting them out. No sleep or breaks. Just go and go and go. Are you working for a Fed crew?

 

[bullbuck]

just got back to this thread and you are correct fire is oats!nothing likelogging,never had to groundpound,but have been initial attack dozer twice now,interesting to say the least,on this most recent fire it blew 5000 plus acres in three and a half hours,dumped of the lowboy at 320 in the afternoon and pushed line for 29 hours straight,except for a two hour hyates in the pickup just enough too cease the knees up!this was all for apache cat bosses under(severity circumstance)but when we finally got the aerial maps in we knocked out close to to two thirds of the perimiter line installed.our cat bosses and us were proud,i do believe that was firefighting