(Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, 7:47 p.m.)—The Kern County Fire Department is accepting applications for Seasonal Firefighters for the 2010 Fire Season. The department is planning to staff up to six wildland firefighting handcrews in the mountainous areas of the county with the first crew starting in February. Staggered hiring will continue until May when all crews will be in place and available for fire response.

When the crews are not on fires, they will be actively involved in various brush removal projects around the county which include constructing roadside firebreaks, firebreaks around mountain communities and assisting homeowners with brush disposal on organized “chipper days."

The position is very physically demanding as crew members are often required to work in steep, mountainous, rocky terrain with ambient temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees.

Appointments for these extra-help positions will not exceed nine months in duration.

Interested individuals must complete an on-line application with the Kern County Employment Department. To access the website, go to www.co.kern.ca.us/person. Click on “Job Openings/Related Information,” “Jobs Now Open to the Public,” “Extra-Help (Temporary Positions)” and scroll down to the “Seasonal Firefighter 1” application.

All new applicants must complete this application.

If you have any questions, please contact the Fire Crew Coordinator at (661) 391-7079.

This is part of the November 27, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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