Fire Watch Officer

Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. (“WDS”) is a Qualified Insurance Resource (QIR) operating the largest private sector wildfire service in the nation, encompassing a 22-state service area and specializing in wildfire education, loss prevention, and wildfire response services. Qualified Insurance Resources are defined as NWCG qualified or equivalent, wildland engines, tenders, hand crews, fire/liaison officers, and personnel working for or contracted by an insurance company with a mission to mitigate impacts on insured structures threatened by wildfire.

WDS holds contracts with insurance companies to provide wildfire loss prevention services. WDS fields experienced, highly trained, safety-focused wildfire officers and fire personnel that hold a wide range of Federal Wildfire Incident Command position classifications necessary to meet or exceed all federal wildfire operation standards and codes including all requirements of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (“NWCG”) or equivalent. WDS is capable of providing more than 180 wildland engines and hundreds of fire personnel and support personnel.

WDS has served large and small insurance clients since 2008.

Job Summary

The Fire Watch Officer I (FWO I) is responsible for analyzing and collecting data to make rapid fire response decisions, including independently dispatching and managing fires across the U.S. and Canada. They ensure mission success by applying WDS guiding principles of Safety, People, and Mission, while maintaining cross-departmental coordination, communication, and professional expertise. The FWO I works directly with FWO II to provide updates on fire activity, threats, resource allocation, and recommendations.

The FWO I will work in the Fire Watch section of the Current Operations Department of Field Services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties and associated time allocations will vary depending upon seasonal fluctuations and fire conditions. The primary focus will be managing data collection, analyzing wildfire activity, and providing response recommendations. This includes resource allocation and strategic placement to meet response needs. This position works closely with FWO II, Battalion Supervisors, Regional Coordination Business Managers (RCBM), and Insurance Resource Commanders (IRC). This role requires expertise in wildfire behavior, incident command system principles, and operational risk management to ensure safety, mission success, and alignment with WDS standards.

• Must be able to read and interpret wildland fire activity, provide a fire progression risk analysis based on fire intel, and determine a desired response.
• Independently review and analyze intelligence to strategically manage fires and resources across the U.S. and Canada.
• Provide Quality Assurance reviews for fire updates from field teams.
• Assist FWO II in directing and managing wildfire response, resource allocation, including subcontractors, during response operations.
• Collect data and intel from IRCs.
• Provide daily Situation Reports and weekly/monthly Fire Outlooks that inform team members of the current and projected fire danger areas.

• Responsible for supporting and promoting a professional and engaging culture within the Current Operations Department to foster a positive employee experience.
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety practices and procedures.
• Provides support to firefighters and coworkers; and must take initiative to ensure the guiding principles of Safety, People, Mission are adhered to.
• Demonstrated ability to apply operational risk management to recommend safe and executable response to incidents. Must be able to recognize risk and recommend trigger points for disengagement of field resources from the incident.
• Enforces and models WDS culture, professionalism, and image while supporting the mission.

• Collaborate with other WDS sections, departments, and divisions to streamline and/or improve existing systems, processes, and methods.
• Contributes to the Fire Watch Team’s strategic operational goals based on business vision.
• Supports and enhances a robust logistics capability to…