2026 Longleaf Prescribed Fire Team

Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC) Prescribed Fire AmeriCorps Member

Days and Hours of Service: Variable days, including nights and weekends.

START DATE: 5 JANUARY, 2026:

END DATE: 24 APRIL, 2026:

Host Site Address:

The Student Conservation Association, 853 Dauphin St., Suite C, Mobile, AL 36602

Host Site - Staff Contact:

Sara Boccardo, AL Program Manager, 251-459-2328, sboccardo@thesca.org

PRIMARY SERVICE SITE ADDRESS:

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, 2100 1ST AVE N, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203

PRIMARY SERVICE SITE SUPERVISOR/COORDINATOR CONTACT:

Geoff Sorrell, Restoration Ecologist, 334.329.0361, gsorrell@tnc.org Rob Wood, Coastal Fire Coordinator, 580.675.425, r.wood@tnc.org

Chuck Byrd, Stewardship Coordinator, 205.617.5341, chuck_byrd@tnc.org

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

As part of The Student Conservation Association (SCA) Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC), the Prescribed Fire AmeriCorps members will work as crews lead by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff. Crews will be primarily tasked with assisting with prescribed fire activities and will travel throughout Alabama to conduct

burns on TNC preserves, state parks, and wildlife refuges. Members will

• participate in wildland fire operations including ignition, control, mop-up,

suppression, and weather monitoring, as well as preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, and post-burn monitoring. Members will perform other preserve

• management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire. Red cards

are not required to apply for this position.

Housing is provided and each team member must live on site with other team members to maximize the team's effectiveness. Members will be based in one of

four locations:

• Oakmulgee Module – Bibb County
• The Talladega Module - Clay County
• Coastal Module – Baldwin County
• Mtn. Longleaf Module – Calhoun County

Service will mostly be outdoors, with frequent long days and require the ability to perform physically demanding work. It is expected that members will pass the arduous Work Capacity Test. All team members are expected to be respectful, punctual, and hardworking.

Equipment Used: Hand tools, prescribed fire tools, power tools.

Commitment Required: The SCA ALCC Program’s term of service is a 4-month commitment that will last from 5 January to 24 April, 2026.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Wildland fire operations, including ignition, control, mop-up, weather
• monitoring, and post-burn monitoring
• Fire prep, including fire line preparation and equipment maintenance
• Operation of hand tools and power tools to accomplish service

activities

• Commitment to serving as a productive team member for the full term of

service

• Commitment to service in environmental conditions that will include

extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, smoke, and precipitation

• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with staff,

crew leaders, members, and partners

• Ability to understand and follow verbal and/or written communication
• Ability to take initiative to complete the task at hand without

prompting

• Acceptance of leadership and supervisory authority
• Must be dependable, flexible, and cooperative

MARGINAL DUTIES:

• Property/land maintenance
• Educational Outreach
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• No previous experience is required
• Please attach resume to application

*       Must be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps member. This includes:

• Being a citizen, permanent resident, or national of the United States;
• Being at least 18 years or older;
• Having a high school diploma or equivalent;
• Being willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including

criminal background, sex offender and FBI checks;

Physical Requirements:

o   Ability to communicate the perceived presence of safety hazards through visual and auditory means

o   Ability to lift 50 lbs., and walk/hike on uneven terrain, uphill or downhill, for 5 miles

o   Ability to serve in environmental conditions that will include extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, smoke, and precipitation

o   All members must pass the arduous Work Capacity Test. This includes walking 3 miles with a 45-pound weighted vest in under 45 minutes. Members that do not pass the pack test will be dismissed from the program

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interest in hands-on, outdoor service activities.
• Interest in pursuing a career in conservation or a related field.
• Interpersonal and professional skills.
• Interest and investment in leadership development and teamwork.

MEMBER BENEFITS:

Compensation: $480/week living allowance.

AmeriCorps Education Award (450 hours = $ $1,956.35) upon successful completion of program.

MEMBER TRAININGS:

SCA AmeriCorps training

National Wildfire Coordinating Group courses include: S130, Wildland Firefighter

S190, Introduction Wildland Fire Behavior S212, Wildland Fire Chainsaws

Online prerequisite courses include: S130

S190 L180 I100:

Is700

Wilderness First Aid

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.