Michael R. Bustamante
Nogales
Summary
I would like to further my career in Fire Management with the United States Forest Service. To help better the agency and provide care for natural resources as well as their future. To support a variety of uses on our public lands that will provide benefits to its people, the land and wildlife.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Forestry Technician GS-0462-5/1, Engine 322
U.S. Forest Service
03.2024 - 01.2025
- Supervisor: Jesus Bonicichi, Jesus.Bonicichi@usda.gov
- Worked 40+ hours weekly
- Supervised 1-5 lower graded firefighters, ensuring tasks are completed safely and effectively.
- Managed and tracked supply cache inventory, ensuring all equipment was accounted for and returned after use.
- Oversaw daily tasks and upkeep of the bunkhouse, ensuring a clean, safe, and well-maintained living environment.
- Implemented landscape improvements by planting native and non-native plant species and led renovation efforts for bunkhouse facility.
- Helped the fuels crew collect fuels data to support burn planning and fuel treatment projects.
- Participated in prescribed fire operations including ignition, holding and mop-up.
- Communicated with dispatch and incident command using radios to relay information and coordinate with adjoining resources.
- Utilized Type 3 and Type 6 engine during wildfire response applying pump and roll tactics and mobile attack strategies.
- Patrolled District and assisted prevention crew with changing fire danger signs and putting up fire restriction signs.
- Assisted Range staff with repairing broken fences, as well as helping build brand new fence where needed.
- Participated in multiple community events, educating students of different grade levels about wildland fire prevention, preparedness, and suppression tactics.
- Helped teach units for an RT-130 refresher course on 4/26/2025.
- Filled in With the Sacramento Hotshots for a 2-week assignment to the Haoe Lead Fire in North Carolina.
- Each day conducted daily engine inspections, ensured tool readiness, and reported mechanical issues.
- Participated in Prepping of roads and trails to later burn off and hold.
- Assisted in driving for Alpha module and Bravo module on difficult and rugged terrain.
- Filled in with the Sacramento Hotshots for a second time to the Greer Fire in the Apache – Sitgreaves National Forest.
- Coordinated with adjoining crews to contain and suppress a spot fire through effective communication and tactical support.
- Executed fuel reduction along Fireline using hand tools and chainsaws to improve fire containment.
- Filled in with Sacramento Hotshots on the Cody Fire in the Coronado National Forest, Az.
- Reported fire behavior observations and updated overhead on crew status and needs.
- Participated in grid searches to detect and eliminate hot spots using hand tools and bladder bags.
- Wrapped up last roll with Sacramento, I learned more about consistently performing in a high temp environment and effective communication to ensure the safety of your fellow crew members.
Forestry Technician GS-0462- 4/01, Engine 321
U.S. Forest Service
03.2022 - 01.2023
- Supervisor: Jesus Bonicichi, Jesus.Bonicichi@usda.gov
- Worked 40+ hours weekly
- Duties at these incidents included performing hose lays, performing handline, burnouts and holding for burnouts.
- After we successfully stopped forward progress on the fire, we performed mop up operations, utilizing chainsaws, hand tools and fire apparatus pump
- Stayed professional throughout the entire out of state assignment
- Performed prescribed burns and burned various piles all by using drip torches
- Utilized different burning techniques and burn patterns to not impact our line.
- Located hydrants and operated pumps at proper pressure to evaluate adequacy of water system and availability of water supply.
- Minimized devastating wildfires by employing hand tools, dozers and air drops for containment operations.
- Stayed in close contact with dispatchers to obtain and relay current information about fire status, supplies and personnel.
- Patrolled previously burned areas after fire containment to locate and eliminate dangerous hot spots.
- Responded to fire and safety-related emergency calls in the local area.
- Attended training to maintain wealth of knowledge in firefighting techniques and
- Responsible for the safety of the crew on wildland fire incidents and supervise assigned crewmembers during daily tasks.
- Gather critical information pertinent to the assignment.
- Suppression methods, enabling quick decision making during actual emergencies.
Forestry Aid GS-0462-3/1, Engine 321
U.S. Forest Service
04.2020 - 01.2021
- Supervisor: Jesus Bonicichi, Jesus.Bonicichi@usda.gov
- Worked 40+ hours weekly
- As an employee of the Nogales Ranger District my knowledge and skills were tested every day to perform certain fire tasks in a safe and timely manner
- Keeping fit for duty by doing daily physical training and staying healthy throughout the fire season
- Daily routines involved doing preventative maintenance on the engine, including: cab, chassis, pump, tank, plumbing and hose
- Complete daily, monthly, and periodic vehicle utilization reports to ensure fire readiness of the engine
- Determined the application of water and foam in accordance with fire behavior, tactics, recourse availability, and ensured those plans conformed to incident
- Followed chain of command, received briefing from crew boss and successfully suppressed wildfire utilizing instructions that were given to me
- Successfully located and obtained water through drafting, utilizing on board pumps, ejectors, natural resources (lakes, ponds, streams, etc.) and hydrants
- Performed indirect, direct, mobile and stationary attack.
- Lead, coordinated, and ensured quality control while implementing progressive and simple hose lays with multiple resources on initial attack.
- Constructed fire line in steep terrain and patrolled it for potential roll out
- Successfully mopped up various fires, using water from the engine utilizing the hardline, hose lays and tools (Pulaski's, McLeod's, shovels, combination tools, chainsaws)
- Completed rehab on engine and tools which include, filling up water tank on engine, cleaning chainsaw and sharpening chain, sharpening hand tools, refilling ice chests, resupplying engine with any supplies that were used and doing a maintenance check on the engine to ensure it is ready for the next initial attack.
Forestry Aid
Tubac Fire District
07.2020 - 12.2020
- Working with Tubac Fire District I was challenged to use my knowledge and skills to perform certain fire operations in a safe and timely manner
- Successfully perform daily vehicle checks on the type 6 engine, which include but not limited to, checking fluid levels, tire pressure, engine and drive components
- Also, filled ice chests, cleaned and serviced fire apparatus when needed.
- Perform engine duties including running the pump, deploying hose lays and holding for potential spots across the fires edge.
- Ensured tasks given by my supervisor were completed.
- Ensured rehabilitation of tools, water, food and supplies after every assignment and daily operation was completed.
- Maintained physical fitness level necessary to perform hard physical labor for long periods of time.
- Packed heavy loads of fuel and hoses to the fire line during daily operations.
Education
High School Diploma -
Rio Rico
Rio Rico, AZSkills
- Commercial Driver's License Class B
- Faller 2 Qualified
- GPS and map reading / Land navigation
- CPR and first aid
- Problem-solving
- Ability to work under pressure
- Team collaboration under high- stress conditions
- Clear and Concise radio communications
- Adaptability in dynamic field conditions
- Completed Arduous pack test; April 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Bilingual – Spanish/English
- Operation of Type 3 and Type 6 Engine
- Fire suppression
- GPS navigation
Certification
- Successfully completed the Southwest Engine Academy 02-05-2026
- S-130/190 Basic Wildland Firefighter 05-28-2020
- S-131 Firefighter Type 1 07-26-2020
- S-190 Intro Wildland Fire Behavior
- NCS Defensive Driving Course 06-14-2020
- L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service 05-25-2020
- IS-100 Intro to Incident Command System 05-25-2020
- IS-200 Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response 05-25-2020
- IS-700 An Intro to the National Incident Management System 05-25-2020
- S-211 Portable Pumps and Water use 07-12-2021
- L-280 Followership to leadership 03-13-2022
- S-219 Firing Operations 03-17-2022
- S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior 03-22-2022
- S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws 03-24-2022
- S-200 IA Incident Commander 05-28-2022
- A100 Basic Aviation Safety 07-05-2022
- A110 Aviation Transportation of Hazmat 07-05-2022
- Firefighter Type 1 07-18-2023
- Incident Commander Type 5 07-18-2023
- A219 Helicopter Transportation External Cargo 07-06-2023
- HeartSaver First Aid CPR AED 04-18-2023
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Forestry Technician GS-0462-5/1, Engine 322
U.S. Forest Service
03.2024 - 01.2025
Forestry Technician GS-0462- 4/01, Engine 321
U.S. Forest Service
03.2022 - 01.2023
Forestry Aid
Tubac Fire District
07.2020 - 12.2020
Forestry Aid GS-0462-3/1, Engine 321
U.S. Forest Service
04.2020 - 01.2021
High School Diploma -
Rio Rico