Staffing / Volunteer Opportunities

Lookout Jobs

The FFLA is NOT involved in hiring of lookout positions, although some chapters and affiliates do manage volunteer programs. Specific job announcements will not be posted on this page, but information will often be shared on the FFLA Facebook page and on the FFLA Discussion Group page.

Federal (US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service) professional (paid) lookout staffing positions are generally advertised on USAJOBS.
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The Forest Service recruitment periods are split out for each Region, generally starting in the early fall for the next year’s vacancies; sometimes, additional vacancy announcements are posted during the winter if positions were not filled from the initial application process. BLM and National Park job announcements are generally posted after the first of the year for the upcoming season.

State lookout position vacancy announcements will follow individual state hiring processes.

Volunteer Lookout Staffing Programs

Most volunteer programs are managed by the agency involved (US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, etc.), NOT the FFLA. Known exceptions involving FFLA chapters, affiliates, and other groups are listed below:

FFLA New York State Chapter
FFLA San Diego-Riverside Chapter
FFLA Monterey Chapter
Southern California Mountains Foundation
Buck Rock Foundation
Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association
Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association
Sand Mountain Society

Other Lookout Volunteer Programs

The above groups are all also involved in maintenance and other lookout-associated programs; other groups involved in non-staffing activities are listed below:

Northwest Montana Lookout Association
FFLA Argentine Chapter
Friends of Three Fingers Lookout
Methow Valley Forest Fire Lookout Association
Friends of St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower