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Arkansas Wildland Firefighter Jobs

Since 2017, 433 wildland firefighter jobs have been posted across Arkansas — and 183 were entry-level (no experience needed). Here's where the crews are and how to pick one.

When they hire

Most Arkansas jobs get posted in August, March, September. Federal fire hiring runs in the fall and winter for the next summer — so apply early, months before fire season.

Who hires

  • Forest Service (390)
  • National Park Service (32)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (7)
  • Office of the Secretary of the Interior (3)

Crew types posted

  • Helitack (27)
  • Dispatch (21)
  • Engine crew (13)
  • Hand crew (10)
  • Hotshot crew (5)

The types of crews — what they do & how big

Typical crew sizes and duties (general fire-world norms, not specific to one posting).

Hotshot crew · 20-person crew

Hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand.

Not entry-level Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Smokejumpers · elite; a few bases

Parachute into remote fires that crews can't reach by road.

Not entry-level At least one full fire season to apply; most have several.

Helitack · small modules

Get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack.

Not entry-level Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Engine crew · 3–10 per engine

Drive fire engines to the fire, pump water, and run hose lays.

✅ Entry-level No experience needed — a classic first job.

Hand crew · ~18–20 per crew

Dig fireline by hand with tools.

✅ Entry-level No experience needed — the classic first job.

Fuels / Rx fire · varies

Thin brush and run planned (prescribed) burns to cut wildfire risk before it starts.

✅ Entry-level Entry-level seasonal roles are common.

Dispatch · support role

Coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line.

Not entry-level A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.

Where the crews are in Arkansas

The towns that hire most. "Entry-level per year" is the typical number of no-experience roles posted in a normal season — your best read on how many spots there are and how many other rookies you'd be with.

Mena, Arkansas

169 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 8 entry-level spots a year (75 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

2
'18
15
'19
11
'20
8
'21
9
'22
10
'23
7
'24
7
'25
6
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Mount Ida, Arkansas

161 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 8 entry-level spots a year (75 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

5
'18
12
'19
12
'20
7
'21
6
'22
9
'23
9
'24
7
'25
8
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.

Ozark, Arkansas

158 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 7 entry-level spots a year (61 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

1
'18
8
'19
5
'20
6
'21
4
'22
9
'23
8
'24
11
'25
9
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.
  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Jessieville, Arkansas

152 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 8 entry-level spots a year (76 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

3
'18
9
'19
12
'20
11
'21
12
'22
9
'23
7
'24
5
'25
8
'26

Waldron, Arkansas

146 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 8 entry-level spots a year (73 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

3
'18
10
'19
9
'20
8
'21
11
'22
11
'23
6
'24
8
'25
7
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Hector, Arkansas

131 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 6 entry-level spots a year (57 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

3
'18
10
'19
5
'20
6
'21
8
'22
6
'23
4
'24
8
'25
7
'26

Clarksville, Arkansas

130 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 6 entry-level spots a year (49 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
8
'19
7
'20
5
'21
6
'22
6
'23
5
'24
5
'25
7
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Helitack — get flown to fires by helicopter for fast initial attack. Usually a season or two on the ground first.
  • Hotshot crew — hike into the toughest, most remote parts of big fires and cut fireline by hand. Usually 1–2+ seasons on a crew first; very competitive.

Paris, Arkansas

123 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 6 entry-level spots a year (44 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
6
'19
6
'20
5
'21
2
'22
6
'23
5
'24
5
'25
9
'26

Mountain View, Arkansas

98 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 5 entry-level spots a year (37 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
8
'19
6
'20
5
'21
4
'22
2
'23
3
'24
6
'25
3
'26

Fifty-six, Arkansas

58 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (28 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
5
'19
4
'20
5
'21
1
'22
1
'23
3
'24
3
'25
5
'26

Deer, Arkansas

42 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (10 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

1
'18
3
'19
2
'20
4
'21
0
'22
0
'23
0
'24
0
'25
0
'26

Booneville, Arkansas

40 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 4 entry-level spots a year (12 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
6
'19
2
'20
4
'21
0
'22
0
'23
0
'24
0
'25
0
'26

Marianna, Arkansas

40 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (16 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
4
'19
2
'20
4
'21
0
'22
3
'23
3
'24
0
'25
0
'26

Hot Springs, Arkansas

38 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 2 entry-level spots a year (15 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
3
'19
1
'20
1
'21
2
'22
0
'23
2
'24
2
'25
4
'26

🔥 Experienced hires — crews based here you work up to

  • Dispatch — coordinate crews, engines, and aircraft by radio — off the fire line. A support role — usually needs some fire or dispatch experience.

Rover, Arkansas

33 postings since 2017

🌱 Entry-level here

  • Typically 3 entry-level spots a year (11 in all since 2017).
  • When they hire: postings peak in August, March, September — apply the fall and winter before the summer you want to work.
  • Where rookies start: engine & hand crews — digging line, mop-up, hose lays, and patrol.

Entry-level openings by fire season (the summer you'd work):

0
'18
3
'19
2
'20
4
'21
0
'22
0
'23
0
'24
2
'25
0
'26

Bars count entry-level postings by fire season — the summer you'd work. Federal fire jobs are posted the fall and winter before (peak Aug–Oct), so each season's bar includes everything hired for that summer, not the calendar date it was posted. The "per year" figure averages complete seasons 2018–2026. Counts come from federal USAJOBS announcements; one regional announcement can list many towns, so these show how often a town appears — a strong signal of where the work is, not an exact headcount.

Arkansas wildland firefighter jobs open right now

No Arkansas jobs are open this minute — federal fire postings come in waves (mostly fall and winter). Browse all open jobs, or check back soon.

Wildland firefighter jobs in other states

California (4 open) Idaho (2 open) Arizona (2 open) Utah (2 open) South Dakota (1 open, 1 entry-level) Alaska (1 open) Texas (1 open) Oregon Montana Colorado Wyoming New Mexico Washington Nevada Minnesota Florida Virginia Michigan Tennessee North Carolina Mississippi Oklahoma Georgia Illinois Missouri South Carolina Kentucky Wisconsin North Dakota Louisiana West Virginia Alabama Nebraska Pennsylvania Indiana New Hampshire Ohio Vermont Kansas

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