Burns Helitack

12/22/2025

2025 Year In Review:

2025 kept us moving, A lot of hours flown around Alaska and Oregon. Sent folks out to Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, and California. Received boosters from all over the country to help accomplish our missions.
Region 6 was slower overall, but early AK and late-season push in R6 made sure we were not parked for long.

Now the crew is laid off and living their off-season lives. Leadership is working on temp and perm hiring to build for 2026.

Big thanks to everyone who helped us out, hosted our folks, and supported behind the scenes.

Looking forward to 2026 season.

25 Stats:
263.8 Total Flight Time
101,500 Gal Water Delivered
621 Pax Transported
47,900 LBS Internal Cargo
112,950 LBS External Cargo
20 Total IA’s
67 Days on Large Fires
300 Detailer Days Received
176 Detailer Days Sent
13 Days of Extension
11 Position Taskbooks Signed off

10/14/2025

More jobs on Burns Helitack flew today. Four temp positions have opened up on USA Jobs and will remain available until 11/12/25.

We are looking for wildland firefighters with at least one year of experience and a readiness to work with a Type-II helicopter conducting initial attack, bucket drops, crew shuttles, cargo operations, recon flights, and other aviation missions.

If interested, email Robert Smith at [email protected] or Zach Hooper at [email protected].

The USA Jobs application can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/job/848044400 (link in bio). Apply to the Hines, OR location.

09/06/2025

Burns Helitack is looking for highly motivated individuals with at least one year of wildland fire experience to join the crew as a permanent seasonal employee.

Being a helitack crewmember on our district entails working with a Type-II helicopter conducting initial attack, bucket drops, crew shuttles, cargo operations, recon flights, and more. Attacking wildfires from the air is a mentally and physically demanding but highly rewarding job, with significant training and overtime opportunities. We fly an average of 200+ hours a year covering multiple states and federal jurisdictions--this season, crewmembers have flown in Oregon, Alaska, Wyoming, Colorado, California, Washington, and New Mexico.

If interested, call Robert Smith at 541-589-0462, or email [email protected] or [email protected].

The USA Jobs application is open until 9/25/25 and can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/job/845085600 (link in bio). Apply to the Hines, OR location.

08/19/2025

89H appreciation post 🚁
Our ship has stayed busy this August with recon flights, smoke checks, bucket work, and more. That's a good drop!

08/01/2025

Another day, another IA
We're back on our home district and picking up IAs left and right. Today saw us fly to the Sand Hollow fire and get it wrapped fast enough to get back to the base and get refurbed for the next one.

07/25/2025

Rotorwash, warming fires, endless backhaul, and some creative methods of drying socks: that's another two weeks on AK's Galena Zone wrapped up. The crew is heading back to Burns for some well-deserved RNR.

07/09/2025

The crew just finished a 14-day roll in the Galena zone up in AK, helping out with cargo, bucket work, crew shuttling, and supporting various fireline operations. Now on to two days RNR in Fairbanks!

06/17/2025

Grillmaster, dad, and assistant supt. Dakota served up some burgers and dogs this past Father's Day as part of our Sunday crew barbecue. Resident airport dog Chopper acted as sous-chef and clean-up crew.

06/10/2025

New ship who dis? Got the new helicopter N689H bell 205A++
We’re ready for the 2025 fire season!

10/16/2024

📢We’re hiring Helicopter Crewmembers (Helitack) for the 2025 wildfire season!📢

🚁 Helitack crews are teams of firefighters who are transported by helicopter to wildfires. Aircraft provide rapid transport, enabling firefighters to quickly respond to and assess a wildfire situation.

Interested? Click the QR code in the image, or go online to www.usajobs.gov and type this job announcement number into the keyword search: BLM-FIRE-2025-010-DHA

For seniors in high school, if you want to apply and need help with the process, there will be work sessions at Burns High School at 9:30 a.m., October 21 and 28.

The application deadline is November 12. Apply today!

And check out this fun, first-hand write-up about “what it’s like to be a helicopter crewmember”: https://bit.ly/3NrzgXu

08/16/2024

Warner Peak Fire 🔥 Spent the last week and a half in Plush, Oregon on the Warner Peak Fire doing some burn out operations and some bucket work.

10/19/2022

Hi,

The following vacancy announcement is now posted and open on USAJOBS:

Announcement Number: BLM-FIRE-2023-008-DHA
Title: Wildland Firefighter (Forestry Technician)
Crew Type: Helitack Crews
Series/Grade: GS-0462-04/05
Locations: AZ/CA/CO/ID/MT/NV/OR/UT/WY

To find the announcement quickly, please click on the following link: ​​https://www.usajobs.gov/job/683598700

Thank you

Positions at the GS-05 level have been identified as key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. These positions have been categorized as a Senior Firefighter (SFF), and require selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to be...