Larimer County Sheriff's Office Seeks Wildland Firefighters for 2026 Fire Season
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office announced October 14 it is accepting applications for on-call and seasonal wildland firefighters to staff its fire crew for the 2026 season, offering opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to protect Northern Colorado communities while gaining firefighting experience.
The positions provide hands-on wildland fire suppression work both locally and through deployments across the United States, according to the sheriff's office recruitment message. Between fire assignments, crew members work on mitigation projects throughout Larimer County designed to reduce wildfire risks and build community resilience against future disasters.
Applications are available through the Larimer County website at larimer.gov/sheriff/support-services/emergency-services-and-fire-rescue/oncall-firefighters.
Sheriff's Office Operates Dedicated Wildland Fire Program
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office operates a specialized wildland fire program within its Emergency Services section, focusing on suppression of forest, brush and grass fires in unincorporated county areas and on county-managed lands, according to Colorado State Forest Service documentation.
Colorado law designates the county sheriff as the fire warden responsible for coordinating wildland fire suppression in areas outside fire protection district boundaries or when fires exceed local district capabilities, according to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 29-22.5-103 and 30-10-513.
The program was formally established in 1998 following increasing wildfire risk and major fire incidents affecting Larimer County. The crew combines initial attack capabilities with hazard mitigation and fuels reduction work on public and private lands, coordinating with federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, state agencies, local fire districts and volunteer organizations.
Major Fires Demonstrate Need for Dedicated Crews
Larimer County has experienced substantially increased wildfire size and frequency compared to historical averages over the past decade, establishing clear need for dedicated wildland fire response capabilities.
The Cameron Peak Fire in 2020 remains the largest wildfire in Colorado history, burning 208,913 acres over nearly four months and causing large-scale evacuations with significant property damage, according to Larimer County emergency preparedness documentation. The High Park Fire in 2012 burned 87,250 acres and destroyed 259 homes.
The county typically experiences between 20 and 60 wildland fire starts annually, with the majority kept under 50 acres through prompt initial attack, according to the Colorado State Forest Service and Larimer County fire plan. Years without major incidents typically see 2,000 to 10,000 acres burned, while years with large fires can exceed 100,000 acres total.
Seasonal Positions Offer Variable Work Schedules
On-call and seasonal wildland firefighters work variable schedules depending on fire activity and mitigation projects rather than year-round employment. A typical fire season lasts 10 to 30 weeks, with personnel potentially working between 30 and 150 days per year concentrated during high fire danger months from May through October.
Hourly compensation for entry-level and intermediate positions typically ranges from $18 to $25 per hour, with specialist or leadership roles including squad boss and crew boss positions earning up to $28 to $32 per hour depending on qualifications and assignments.
Temporary and seasonal staff receive worker's compensation and mandatory retirement contributions but typically do not receive health insurance or paid leave unless specified for longer-term positions, according to Larimer County human resources policies.
Certifications Required for Firefighting Work
Minimum requirements typically include Red Card certification as a Firefighter Type 2, requiring S-130 and S-190 training issued through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and recognized by the sheriff's office and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Additional qualifications including Emergency Medical Responder certification, S-212 chainsaw training and advanced wildland leadership credentials may be required for higher-paid roles and specialized assignments.
Local mitigation work including hazard reduction and community protection is paid at base hourly rates with standard overtime. Out-of-county or out-of-state wildfire assignments arranged through interagency agreements may provide additional hazard pay differentials or per diem living allowances, especially for federally reimbursed fires managed under national mobilization systems.
County Budget Supports Program Through Multiple Sources
The Larimer County wildland fire program operates through combined funding from base county allocations, state and federal grant awards, and federal cost recovery for fire assignments.
Annual funding typically allocates between $250,000 and $400,000 per year for wildland fire operations excluding additional grant funding and extraordinary fire event reimbursements, according to Larimer County budget documents. County expenditures can spike during years with large fires, with state and federal agencies reimbursing portions of response and recovery costs following disaster declarations.
Fuels mitigation and seasonal crew funding often comes from external grants administered by the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office Emergency Services section.
The recruitment announcement emphasized the dual nature of the work, appealing both to those seeking outdoor challenges as primary employment and to desk workers looking for meaningful outdoor activities during spare time.