Portland, OR Firefighter....

[Cabulance]

I'm a full-time FF/Paramedic working in N/E Ohio. I've been on the job for 6 years. I would like to relocate to the Portland area. Anyone out there from PF&R willing to take with me about the department and area. I can be reached at [email protected] Thanks

My Website: http://www.clevelandheightsfire.com

[GoCougs]

PF&R is actually accepting applications starting today through Oct. 16th. I just applied myself

[Cabulance]

I just applied too. I'm just not sure it's worth giving up almost 7 yrs. seniority, security, etc. Yet... I don't know if I want to spend the next 20 yrs. in Cleveland, Ohio.

[ogomez]

PF&R

I've Been On For 5 Yrs., What Would You Like To Know?

[psytlk]

Exam

Hi, is anybody able to provide any insight as to what type of questions are on the entrance exam? Thanks in advance for the help.

[Jason6368]

id like to know which one i should shoot for, trainee or FF/EMT. Im 22, have my california EMT and am going through school with my fire classes. any advise is greatly appreciated.

Jason

[Cabulance]

Hi Ogomez,
O.K. Here it goes.
Is there a residency requirement (do you have to live in the city?)
How is the housing?
Are there affordable places to live on the salery?
How long does it take to get to full pay?
Do you think layoffs are likely in the future?
Does it rain every "F"in day in the fall and winter?
I've heard that OR schools are not great. Are there burbs close to the city with good schools and safe neighborhoods. (I have 2 young children.)
Do you like your job? Good bunch of guys?
I like my job here, I like my dept. but Portland sounds like a cool place.
What's one thing in the city I should check out if I fly to Portland for the test?
Thanks!!

[pdxfire]

id like to know which one i should shoot for, trainee or FF/EMT. Im 22, have my california EMT and am going through school with my fire classes. any advise is greatly appreciated.

Jason

you will have to go for ff/emt

[pdxfire]

Hi Ogomez,
O.K. Here it goes.
Is there a residency requirement (do you have to live in the city?)
How is the housing?
Are there affordable places to live on the salery?
How long does it take to get to full pay?
Do you think layoffs are likely in the future?
Does it rain every "F"in day in the fall and winter?
I've heard that OR schools are not great. Are there burbs close to the city with good schools and safe neighborhoods. (I have 2 young children.)
Do you like your job? Good bunch of guys?
I like my job here, I like my dept. but Portland sounds like a cool place.
What's one thing in the city I should check out if I fly to Portland for the test?
Thanks!!

no residency
housing in the pdx area is very high. The median price is well over 250,000
no it does not rain everyday. It does however rain most of fall and winter. We really dont have seasons.
THe schools in portland are in crisis due to budgets. The Burbs are close but you cannot escape problems.
If you can handle the rain in the fall and winter. Dark gloomy days. PDX is a beautiful city with a diverse population.

[ogomez]

PDX info

Is there a residency requirement (do you have to live in the city?)
How is the housing?
Are there affordable places to live on the salery?
How long does it take to get to full pay?
Do you think layoffs are likely in the future?
Does it rain every "F"in day in the fall and winter?
I've heard that OR schools are not great. Are there burbs close to the city with good schools and safe neighborhoods. (I have 2 young children.)
Do you like your job? Good bunch of guys?
I like my job here, I like my dept. but Portland sounds like a cool place.
What's one thing in the city I should check out if I fly to Portland for the test?
Thanks!!


I originally moved from Miami, FL and the winters can be grey and rainy but it's more of a light rain and when it rains here its snowing in the mountains. PDX is 1.5 hrs from the mountains and the coast, 3 hrs from the desert and 4 hrs from seattle. We have the 2nd largest city park in the US, hiking is a 30 min drive away.
-I live in Tigard, OR where the schools are better than Portland. Other areas are Beaverton, Tualatin. We have guys that live in Washington (Vancouver, Ridgefield, La Center)
-I love the job, great bunch of guys.
-Layoff aren't likely in the near future
-You start at 11-something an hour in the academy and then go to 16-something at the end of the first year. From there the bumps are annual and at the end of 5 yrs go to 24.25/hr
- the training goes
EMT 2-3 months
trainee 2 months
academy 4 months
training station 6 months ( 3months on the engine/ 3 months on the truck and retesting EMT and running calls on a 24/48 schedule. It is a long proccess and ALOT of academic studying/testing. 2-3 test/week with an 80% pass score required. Physically also very taxing, PT everyday and alot of evolutions.

On your visit do a brewery tour,w e have over 200 microbreweries and a great winery selection. I would be glad to show you around.

To the PDX guy, give me an e-mail

[email protected]

[ogomez]

test ?'s

Hi, is anybody able to provide any insight as to what type of questions are on the entrance exam? Thanks in advance for the help.

The test is the basic public service type of exam. I studied the BArron's and ARCO study guides and did fine. The passing grade is in the mid to high 90's

[GoCougs]

When I applied I went for the trainee instead of the FF/emt. I need to get my EMT and experience before I shoot for the career. I figured it was the best option

[GoCougs]

The test is the basic public service type of exam. I studied the BArron's and ARCO study guides and did fine. The passing grade is in the mid to high 90's

Is it really that high? I also applied for TVFR and order a book for their test. Is there something that I should be studying for the PF&R test?

Also when I applied to PF&R I only filled out an online section that asked for name, adress, phone number, and social security. Is there another application that is more indepth and ask for a resume/refrences?
Thanks,
Mitch

[ogomez]

recruiting office

I don't think there is anything else but call the recruiting office

503-823-3811

[GoCougs]

I just called human resources and they told me that was all they were collecting at the moment. After the test they will start accepting more information