Forest Fire Prevention Specialists

The career of forest fire inspector and prevention specialist ranks among the fastest-growing careers in the United States from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Job opportunities are expected to increase by 16 percent during this time span. "Forest fires now result in nearly 6 million more hectares [14,826,322.8 acres] of tree cover loss per year than they did in 2001," according to the World Resources Institute. This is an area that is roughly the size of Croatia. The U.S. Forest Service says that “longer fire seasons; bigger fires and more acres burned on average each year; more extreme fire behavior; and wildfire suppression operations in the wildland urban interface have become the norm.”

Although demand is strong, it’s important to remember that forest fire inspection and prevention is a small field. There are currently only 2,400 specialists, and only 400 new positions will be available through 2033. On the other hand, the increasing severity of wildfires in the United States, Canada, and other countries will prompt many governments to expand their fire inspection and prevention departments in order to reduce the number of deaths and injuries, as well as billions of dollars in property and forestland damage caused by these fires.