The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has plans to hire 61 permanent positions related to fire fighting and forest health, including hand crew superintendents, foremen and squad bosses, and heavy equipment operators. While these type of positions are usually seasonal, and based on the level of firefighting activity, the recent hotter, drier weather they say, has created a need for year-round firefighting capability to protect life and property. Based on pay ranges for the positions listed on the state job site, the salary expenditure could range from some $2.5 million to $3.2 million annually. Washington DNR is the largest fire department in the state and is responsible for firefighting and prevention on 13 million acres of private, state, and tribal-owned forestlands.