DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Address:  2901 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85027

Salary: $16.4525 - $24.6942 Hourly 

Grade: 18

Closing Date: December 26, 2024.

Initial Attack Dispatchers receive reports of incidents and initiate the initial response of appropriate fire fighting resources and also provides tracking of forestry field crews to ensure safety of the crew members. The position submits and processes requests to locate, allocate, and mobilize essential personnel, equipment, aircraft, and supplies to an incident and demobilizes resources following the conclusion of an incident. The work involves the coordination of numerous activities and functions into an overall efficient and effective support effort. At this level incumbents independently perform the full range of initial attack dispatch and logistical duties while ensuring compliance with standard methods, established contracts, rules, policies, procedures and guidelines. Incumbents routinely take action or make decisions without prior approval from higher level staff. Lead duties may be assigned.

• Maintains current information on the appropriate response to incidents and fulfills requests from the field and independently plans and carries out the procedural and technical tasks involved in the dispatching of personnel, equipment, and/or supplies to suppress wildland fires and also provides tracking of forestry field crews to ensure safety of the crew members.
• Makes recommendations regarding resource orders or anticipated orders. Based on current wildland fire suppression activity and utilizing prior wildland firefighting experience and training, anticipates fire suppression needs and determines resource allocation. Determines the number of personnel and composition of equipment to dispatch to wildland fires
• Collects, processes, collates and submits incident information to support fire operations (e.g. fire reports, smoke permits, spot weather forecasts, prescribed fire burn requests).
• Processes and interprets weather information to determine burning indices, preparedness levels and staffing levels for suppression and aviation resources.
• Organizes and reviews completed records of all orders placed and actions taken to ensure adherence to established operating procedures.
• Prepares information for briefings of the Center Manager, Public Information Officer, and agency staff.
• Other Duties as assigned
• Drive on State Business

Knowledge of:

• Standard initial attack, logistical, and administrative procedures, guidelines, Incident Command System (ICS) terminology, methods and organizational requirements, and safety requirements used in the dispatch of personnel, aircraft, equipment and supplies to support the needs of requesting unit/ incident.
• Multi-channel radio and phone system communications procedures.
• Fire behavior influences such as weather conditions, topography, and fuels.
• Wildland fire suppression tactics and strategies sufficient to provide initial attack and logistical support to fire management operations.

Skills in:

• Evaluating nature of calls received, determining proper response, prioritizing actions to be taken and dispatching appropriate response
• Communicating clearly and concisely under stressful situations
• Recognizing and analyzing hazardous conditions, making accurate decisions, and taking prompt effective action
• Operating computers and utilizing the computer for inputting data and maintaining records, generating reports and processing requests to facilitate fire management operations
• Following instructions without supervision, learning and retaining information, ask questions and elicit required information, speak and write clearly and effectively

Ability to:

• Organize priorities
• Communicate clearly and concisely
• Work independently and supervise if needed
• Accurately analyze fire detection reports
• Remain calm under urgent and frequently changing conditions.
• Accurately and effectively apply guidelines and references including state and federal policies, contracts, professional standards, policies, and procedures that are regularly used to perform logistics and dispatch duties
• Drive on State business

The ability to type 35-40 WPM
FFT1 or FFT2
Expanded Dispatch Recorder through NWCG

A valid Arizona Driver's License.

Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

Certification as an Initial Attack and Support Dispatcher from the National Incident Qualification System, must be obtained within 1 year of employment.

And either:

Six months of trainee or entry level wildland firefighting or forestry related field experience. This can be at the federal, state or local level;
Or One year of general office clerical, warehouse, supply, or retail experience;
Or One year of radio dispatch experience;
Or substitution College or vocational education may substitute for the firefighting or forestry work experience (3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours of college coursework is equivalent to 1 month of experience; 150 hours of vocational education equals one month of experience).

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program, learn more at hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion).
Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
Deferred compensation plan
Wellness plans
Tuition reimbursement eligible after one year of employment

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.

Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

The current contribution rate is 12.29%

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Morgan Lee at mlee@dffm.az.gov for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 771-1457. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.