Working with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service

Tyler Russell- Crew Member/ Intern

How did you hear about this Summer Internship I learned many things throughout the internship, but here are three
position? that sticks out to me:
-I’ve wanted to work with this organization for a while as I would ● The value of having people you can trust and rely on as a leader.
like a career with them. So I’ve known about the organization for The organization is very reliant on help of part timers and it is
a while. important to acknowledge those individuals.
● Prescribed fire planning is very in depth so that life and property is
What was the application/interview protected, but the ecosystem can be benefited as well.
process like? ● There are very dedicated people in the job who give a lot of time to
-So the interview I had was with the Section Warden who the organization. It’s important to be open to the ideas and
facilitated the internship and was asking about my interest and teachings of these people, because their experience is valuable.
reasoning for joining the organization. As well as my prior work
experiences.

How many days per week did you

Work?
-Atleast once a week. The Job is very weather dependent.

Did you earn credit for this

internship? If yes, how many
-Yes I earned four credits as I worked over 160 hours.

Was this a paid internship?

-It was a partly paid internship. Any work I did or would have
done in the fire tower, at the shop, going west, or working fires is
paid. Anything where it was more learning based was unpaid.

My job as an intern:
● Act as an ordinary crew member: going to assist in initial
attack on fire, etc.
● Accompany the Section Warden and others to public events
and assist with them
● Assist the Section Warden with taking data and tracking the
regrowth of plots that were prescribed burned earlier that
year.
● Act as a representative of the state along with others on AD Outside of the Internship:
hires to go west; work hard, be courteous, etc. ● Being a member of your sections crew is an on
● Go to classes and trainings for the opportunity to go west call part time job
and do other tasks (work the fire towers, etc,) ● The NJFFS works closely with NJ Forest
Service, State and Federal Fish and Wildlife,
National Park Service, and more
● Serve your community and gain related
environmental work experience in a unique way.