OT: Do jobs like that exist?

[gunver]

Are there really summer jobs like that? Where you don't have to have any real firefighting training beforehand? I sooooooo much would want to go. That would f***ing suit me. :D

[veryinky]

http://www.firelookout.org/lookout-jobs.html
Yes.

[Nelsormensch]

Yep! They're definitely less common now than they were in the 80s (or even earlier) but the USFS does still staff some fire lookouts. You're not a firefighter just a, well, lookout. You look. Watch, if you will.

Philip Connors has done this every summer for years and recently wrote a book about it, which I think we all read as reference as we were starting on the game. It's interesting, highly recommend it!

http://www.amazon.ca/Fire-Season-Field-Wilderness-Lookout/dp/0061859370

[Metadragon]

Its like being a neighborhood watchman apparently. You just call other people. Lots of this in the midwest and Canada.

[gunver]

Wow, thank you for the hints!
I'm gonna look into it. In fact, I'm already browsing through the book (it's available for the kindle).
I'm not from the US, but maybe there is even a chance to get an H-2B visa for this. I am currently studying to become an English teacher so it could count as an internship in an English speaking country as well.

A man can dream! ;)

[PlanB]

There used to be 140 or so fire watch lookout in BC. Recently, they built lightning-strike detectors all over, so the need for lookouts was nearly eliminated. They say the best man-made fire reports come from the people who started the fire. And so, they have since closed all the lookout in BC. Alberta still operates them though.