Take your wildland firefighting skills to the next level and apply by Sept. 25, 2026
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service in Alaska is looking for hard working, physically fit, intelligent and experienced wildland firefighters interested in becoming Alaska Smokejumpers. If you’re an experienced wildland firefighter looking for a new challenge, fill out this online interest form or apply on USAJobs.gov by the Sept. 25, 2026 deadline.
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The mission of the Alaska Smokejumpers is to provide users with highly qualified, safe, and aggressive wildland firefighters whom quickly and effectively respond to initial attack, extended attack, and point protection missions in Alaska and the Lower 48 states. Utilizing high performance fixed-wing aircraft and specialized parachutes, the Alaska Smokejumpers provide a rapid and long-range response capability for a wide variety of wildland fire missions.
The majority of selected Rookie applicants will be hired as GW-05/06/07Career Seasonals. All Rookies will start as GW-05’s and can transition into a GW-06 and GW-07 when time in grade and qualifications allow. We highly advise any individual interested in being a rookie to apply to all announcements. Transfer and current Alaska Smokejumpers below a GW-07 level position should apply for the Career Ladder GW-05/06/07. Find a list of all current USWFS open positions in Alaska on USAJobs.gov.
Successful candidates typically have three to five years wildland firefighting experience and can far surpass these fitness standards.
- Run 1.5 miles above the minimum required standard of 10:47 minutes.
- At least six pull-ups.
- At least 30 push-ups.
- Carry a 110-pound pack in 65 minutes or less.
- At least 60 sit-ups within three minutes.
Why are Alaska Smokejumpers different?
Equipped with high-performance aircraft and specialized parachutes, Alaska smokejumpers deliver rapid, long-range response capabilities for diverse wildland fire missions. Think you’ve got what it takes? Discover the requirements and apply today. Click this link for more information. Watch this YouTube video about Alaska Smokejumpers.
Due to its remote nature, Smokejumpers are the primary initial attack force for federally protected lands covering 191.5 million acres across northern Alaska (an area larger than Texas) and provide significant assistance to interagency partners in Alaska and the lower 48 states.
In addition to no state income tax, Alaska has a significant locality payment (32.36% in 2025) and a 1.49% cost of living allowance beyond base salary.
Formerly known as the BLM Alaska Fire Service, the USWFS located on Fort Wainwright, Alaska has one of two USWFS smokejumper bases and is among nine national smokejumper bases. Government housing and meals are available for all Smokejumpers to off-set cost of living during the fire season.
The Alaska Smokejumper paracargo section is the largest civilian PC program in the world, dropping yearly average of 300,000 lbs. In addition to PC program, the Alaska Smokejumpers have unique firearms and watercraft qualifications for jetboat, Zodiac boat and pack raft.
Watch this YouTube video about the Alaska Smokejumper paracargo program.
Personal attributes required
- Service Oriented: USWFS Smokejumper program is a service organization dedicated to performing with excellence every time we are called.
- Self-reliance, cooperation, teamwork: Smokejumping demands both self-reliance when the mission calls for largely independent action, and teamwork. Smokejumpers must be able to cooperate with firefighters and others from a multitude of agencies and backgrounds.
- Adaptability: Smokejumper candidates should realize that change, frequent travel, and uncertainty are part of the job. Smokejumpers must adapt well to rapidly changing environments and situations, prolonged periods of intense fire activity, and periods of no fire activity.
- Attitude: A positive, “can do” attitude is essential.
- Physical Fitness: Smokejumper specific duties demand exemplary physical conditioning. Smokejumpers are required to maintain peak fitness due to the extreme physical demands of the job; all jumpers must be in excellent condition. It is not uncommon to construct fireline for 14 to 16 hours per day on a regular basis. Both strength and endurance are of the utmost importance.
The Alaska Smokejumpers are looking for individuals who are ready to meet challenges head-on and embrace a career filled with purpose and adventure. If you have what it takes to excel in a demanding environment, we urge you to apply to all three announcements. This is more than just a job — it’s a chance to be part of a team that makes a difference every day. Prepare yourself for the journey, and get ready to join a legacy of excellence and service.
Find more information about Alaska Smokejumpers online and about our recruitment here.
🛠️ The Merit Hiring Plan requirement requires resumes MUST be limited to 2-pages. If your resume is longer, only the first two pages will be reviewed – which could cost you the job. Need help with the new resume format? Check out the official guidance here: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit
Contact for more information
For more information, please contact Luke Langhorst at 907-356-5531 or llanghorst@blm.gov.
Editor’s note: The dates of job announcement openings were updated.
Watch this YouTube video of Alaska Smokejumpers at the USWFS smokejumper base on Fort Wainwright, Alaska gearing up for a fire jump. Note that as of 2026, the Alaska Smokejumpers are now part of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, not the Bureau of Land Management.
-USWFS-
U.S. Wildland Fire Service, P.O. Box 35005 1541 Gaffney Road, Fort Wainwright, Ak 99703
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Categories: AK Fire Info, US Wildland Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 