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Show Forest Service Adds 2,500 New Jobs WASHINGTON, D.C. In response re-sponse to the severe fire season of 2000 and recent legislation signed by President William Clinton, the United States Department of Agriculture Agri-culture Forest Service will hire approximately ap-proximately 3,500 employees in firefighting positions over the next several months. ' The new positions will support the National Fire Plan, which was developed with the Department of Interior and approved by President Clinton and outlines Forest Service actions to address catastrophic wildfire wild-fire threats throughout the country. "In the wake of this summer's devastating fire season, this is an excellent time to improve our nation's na-tion's wildland fire suppression capabilities ca-pabilities and to reduce fire hazards near populated areas," said Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck. "We are committed to obtaining a diverse pool of applicants from across the country who are interested inter-ested in supporting our firefighting mission." Up to 1,000 of the positions will be permanent while the rest will be temporary or seasonal, lasting last-ing up to six months per year. However, there will be opportunities opportuni-ties for current seasonal employees to become permanent seasonal employees em-ployees with better benefits and more job security. Most of the 3,500 jobs will be entry level forestry for-estry aids and technician jobs assigned as-signed to firefighting positions and some positions will require more (See FOREST JOBS on Page 4A) FOREST JOBS From Front Page specialized knowledge and skills. Applications and additional information in-formation regarding the new fire-fighting fire-fighting jobs are available at www.fs.fed.usfsjobs. . Individuals can request applications via an automated, toll-free telephone number, num-ber, (877) 813-3476, by e-mail;. fsjobsfs.fed. us, or by visiting their local Forest Service office An on-line application process is slated to be available in mid-December. mid-December. To apply, one must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older and may have to pass a physical fitness test. The deadline for the first round of applications is Jan. 2, 2001.' Selections Selec-tions will begin in mid-January. In addition to these Forest Service positions, po-sitions, the United States Department Depart-ment of Interior soon will issue a similar announcement for firefight-ing firefight-ing positions to support the National Na-tional Fire Plan. |