01/01/1972 54010

FOREST LOOKOUT

DEFINITION: This is routine seasonal forest fire protection work in maintaining a forest fire watch from an observation tower.

Employees in this class are responsible for detecting, locating and reporting forest fires from a lookout tower. Stations are operated only during periods of relatively high danger of forest fire occurrence. Work requires constant vigilance in order to promptly detect fires and dangerous fire conditions. Assignments are received in the form of general and specific instructions at the beginning of the season and work is checked by occasional visits by a superior warden and by analysis of reports.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED: Watches from a forest observation tower in order to detect fires; locates fires by use of binoculars, alidade and maps; and promptly reports fires and their location to superiors by radio or telephone.

Makes and records weather observations.

Performs unskilled and semi-skilled construction and maintenance work on towers, buildings, roads, telephone lines and cleans and repairs fire fighting tools.

Keeps records and makes reports.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Some knowledge of fire prevention and fire control methods and techniques.

Skill in the use of common tools used in construction and maintenance work.

Ability to read maps and to use fire locating equipment and weather instruments.

Ability to operate radio transmitters and receivers.

Ability to perform unskilled and semi-skilled work in construction and maintenance of towers, buildings, telephone lines and other facilities.

Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions without close supervision.

Ability to keep simple records and to prepare reports.

Eyesight sufficiently strong to permit long distance vision.

Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Such training as may have been gained through completion of the eighth school grade.