Can an ordinary guy apply for a job fighting fires? Or is it "specialized"
probably need a ticket of some sort to operate a shovel.

Look at the response you got to this question on the free-for-all.

thanks swingline
I guess you have to have some training. I remember when they used to haul untrained people out of the bars, or driving the back roads to fight fires.
It is difficult for some unemployed folks to get that training. Lots don't have too much schooling and may not know where to look to find such training and jobs.

I've known a few people who did firefighting during their university summers, and they say it's quite a physically intense training process. And it's pretty difficult to get into, lots of people wanting the jobs but there weren't many openings. But then again, that was a few years back, things may have changed since then! Seems to be a young person's job anyways.

If you ever have occasion to meet up with a responding forest fire crew, you will realize in a heartbeat that these people did not just walk out of the bar. They are very highly trained and skilled, right down to looking at the plume of smoke from miles away and telling you what type of fire they are going to be dealing with and what is likely happening in the fire area. They also come heavily equipped for any situation, like a military unit responding to a war zone. Very impressive to watch.