This is completely inaccurate for any ranger district west of the Mississippi.

I worked a season as a "firefighter" with the USFS, with my primary duty being firefighting. 3 full rolls and a dozen local IAs. Yeah we mowed the grass, built fences, did some snagging, and occasionally helped the other disciplines with their sciencey stuff, but our main duty was local IA. 2 hour callback times, all summer.

My job title was 0462 Forestry Technician. I got the same job title, basepay, and utter lack of benefits that I did when I worked a season with the USFS on their silviculture crew, with zero fire response required.

All primary fire federal employees should be officially called firefighters, receive time towards fire-retirement, health/vision/dental insurance, and be considered permanent employees. No more temporary-seasonal fuckery. It's absurd. My friend is laying in the hospital right now with a broken femur from when she fell trying to escape a flareup. She almost died, working for $14 an hour and zero benefits.