Portland Fire & Rescue - now taking applications

[pro300]

Just wanted to remind everybody out there that as of this morning Portland Fire & Rescue is taking applications. Here is the website for information. http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/index.cfm?c=26188

You can complete the application online or if you are in the Portland area you can pick up the application at 1 of the 3 locations. *note* The Administrative Offices have been temporarily moved out of the 3rd floor of Station 1 downtown, so if you head to Station 1 to pick up an application there will probably be a note on the door directing you to the temporary office location on SW Columbia St.

Good luck to everybody taking the test.

[CFDRes]

Is there anyone who has taken Portland's written test in the past that can venture an estimate on the passing score? I haven't had too much luck with FireTEAM tests so far, and am a little discouraged to see Portland is using it...

[GaiusPaul]

pro300, this is my first time taking the Portland test. Are there any study guides needed for it?

Thanks for posting this, BTW.

[ffbam24]

From one of their links
How Do I Become A Firefighter (http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=132375)
They recommend Barron's or Arco Study Guides.

Anyone seeing anything on it being a Fireteam test outside of this?

[CFDRes]

From one of their links
How Do I Become A Firefighter (http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=132375)
They recommend Barron's or Arco Study Guides.

Anyone seeing anything on it being a Fireteam test outside of this?


Just started the online app and it says that the test is a video-based exam with sections in mathematics, mechanics, human interaction, and reading. There is also a confidentiality notice you must sign that is for the "FireTEAM Emergency Reponse Selection and Training System."

[Jasper17]

Anyone have any information on the City of Portland itself? Or more specifically on the Fire and Rescue department or whatever they call it? I might consider relocation in the next couple of years (from Southern Maryland) and it seems like it might be a nice place. I am a school teacher now and have been a volley for nearly 7 years and I still consider going the career route some day. Any information on Portland would be great. Thanks.

[powerhourcoug]

Anyone have any information on the City of Portland itself? Or more specifically on the Fire and Rescue department or whatever they call it? I might consider relocation in the next couple of years (from Southern Maryland) and it seems like it might be a nice place. I am a school teacher now and have been a volley for nearly 7 years and I still consider going the career route some day. Any information on Portland would be great. Thanks.


http://www.google.com

[Jasper17]

http://www.google.com

Wow, wish I had thought of that.

[Jwarne2001]

There's usually some PF&R regulars who stop by here....hopefully they'll pop in.

To answer some of the questions here:

Portland is a great city, an hour away from the mountains, hour and a half from the beach and three hours from high desert plateau. Yes, it does rain a lot here....but we have great summers and many years we have great weather into October.

PF&R is a terrific dept. Around 700 FF's, 30 stations....serves its community well. An aggressive dept but still very safety conscious. EMS, tech rescue, high angle, hazmat, dive/water rescue, urban interface, etc....something for everyone. Training program is top notch...10 months of academic/practical applications (I'm starting the 6th month currently.)

Check out Ergometrics website (I think it's www.ergometrics.org.) There's a link to the FireTeam testing. I believe this is the first time PF&R has used this....I took the video test with another dept last year. Interesting test...can't really say much because the company makes you sign a confidentiality agreement before taking the test....they're very protective of the test.

Great dept in a great city....can't recommend it enough.

[MTGillinois]

Do the PFD firefighters work ems as well as fire side?

That's about the only question I have left.

[GaiusPaul]

Check out Ergometrics website (I think it's www.ergometrics.org.) There's a link to the FireTeam testing. I believe this is the first time PF&R has used this....I took the video test with another dept last year. Interesting test...can't really say much because the company makes you sign a confidentiality agreement before taking the test....they're very protective of the test.

Great dept in a great city....can't recommend it enough.

Jwarne2001, so reading that correctly, there is no study guide for the test, but only the practice test you can purchase?

Congrats on joining Portland. I hope to be there soon myself. :)

[clark918]

I took the FireTEAM test with St Louis last summer. So many people failed that they threw it out. I think about 75% failed it. However, they said that the main problem was the math section which I thought was a joke. Over 90% of minorities failed that. St Louis is/was having a big problem with race over there so that ended up being a big deal.

The part that got me a bit was the situational part. I thought that there were always a couple answers that sounded good. I haven't checked the site yet, but I guess there are a couple correct answers after I finished the test. So I think I did pretty well, but never got to see the results.

[Jwarne2001]

Jwarne2001, so reading that correctly, there is no study guide for the test, but only the practice test you can purchase?

Congrats on joining Portland. I hope to be there soon myself. :)

Thanks...and good luck to you.

My understanding of the process:

Written Test - A Barron or Arco study guide will help you with this. Pretty typical entry level firefighting written exam.

FireTeam Video test - This is new for Portland. Not much prep you can do here. When I took it with a different dept last year, I did buy their online practice guide. It helped somewhat.

Oral Board - Self explanatory.

Physical agility - Take a look at the Physical Agility test link on the PF&R website. It's a unique test but completely passable if you're in decent shape.

Chief's interview - If you make it this far, you'll sit in front of a panel, including chief(s), for some additional questions.

I believe your position on the list will be determined by the Written, First Oral Board and the FireTeam test. The Physical Agility and Chief's Interview will happen as numbers are called off the list. If you go the Trainee route, the process is pretty much the same, except you would go on a separate list and they'll fold the Trainees in with FF/EMT's for each academy.

[Jasper17]

Thanks for the info Jwarne, does sound good. How is life at the academy? Grueling? Obviously lots of book work and evolutions. How's PT and discipline etc?

[Jwarne2001]

The academy is 4 out of the 10 months. It's 40 hours a week (4 X10's) with lots of academics, PT, drilling and evolutions.

From there you move to the training station for 6 months (3 on the engine, 3 on the truck.) You continue to drill during the day and evenings, run evolutions/scenarios, EMS training, academics, etc.....but we also run calls as they come in. You work the 24 on, 48 off schedule. Day starts at 6 a.m.....drill, do housework, more drilling, prepare/eat lunch for the regulars and training officers....then more drilling until dinner, maybe a written test thrown in. Prepare/eat dinner. Then more drilling after dinner, run some EMS scenarios. They'll throw in scenarios out on the drillground for the engine/truck crew to work together.....they'll tap you out like a regular call and the recruits work the call...VERY COOL.

Some nights this may go until 11 p.m. Then you wrap up charts from EMS runs during the day, fill bottles, clean tools, group study. Then try to get a shower and hit the rack by 12:30-1:00. Some shifts, we sleep through the night....others we may be up 2-3 times after midnight running calls. Then were done around 7a.m. the next day.

Tough....but completely worth it.

[Jasper17]

Thanks again man, that does sound like a very unique and meaningful experience.

How often do they hire out there. I'm not registered for the upcoming test, any chance they'd be hiring again before I'm too old? (Just turned 24).

[Jwarne2001]

They've been testing every 2 years lately so if you don't make it out for this round of testing, it'll probably be 2010 when the next round of testing rolls around. Don't quote me as much could happen in 2 years.

FYI, I just had my 36th birthday....left a corporate job to pursure this career. There's a guy in his 40's in the class before ours. If you choose not to test now and wait 2 years, you'll still be 10 yrs younger than me. Go for it.

[GoCougs]

I filled out my application a couple days ago. I was very excited to hear/read that PF&R switched to the video based test. I feel much more confident with this test then the standard written. I decided to go with the EMT test this time instead of the trainee test. Hopefully I will get just as far and hopefully a job this go around. Best of luck to everybody

[Jwarne2001]

Good luck, Mitch. Hope to see you around.

[whatbrown]

I just moved to Portland from San Diego and I will be taking the firefighter test for the first time.

I have a couple of questions specific to the Portland test:

Will the video based test be the only ''written'' test? I have found conflicting information on this.

Will the score of the written test be added to the score of the oral interview for ranking?

Finally, does anybody know approximately how many people will be hired for trainee?

Thank you all very much!

[CObasic]

bump! (those are good questions)

[Jasper17]

Whatbrown, what are your thoughts on the City thus far? How would you compare it to San Diego? Why the relocation?

Sorry for the interrogation but as you might have read, I have Portland on my list of possible destinations within the next couple of years and I am trying to get some real-live opinions of it.

Thanks for anything you can offer.

[whatbrown]

Jasper 17, I love Portland. It is beautiful. Nature really is showcased here. The weather is nice now, but of course that will change in the winter. People are very active and seem to enjoy the natural beauty. It is a big city that has a small town feel. The vast majority of people are white. People drive slower. There is a lot to do, and each neighborhood has its own character. There is no sales tax and you can't pump your own gas. The cost of living is less than San Diego as well, but more than other areas of the country I'm sure.

Honestly, I like Portland much better than San Diego. I am glad I took a leap of faith and moved up here. The only neagtive that people who have lived here for a long time tell me, is of course the weather. It is beautiful from June until September, but otherwise, it tends to be very grey and misty. I guess I will find out, as I moved here in May.

The reason I moved from San Diego was for a change of pace. I had lived in Southern California my entire life, and I wanted to live somewhere different. I had a job lined up and decided to just go for it. I don't have children yet or anything holding me down, so why not?

If you have any questions that I did not answer, I would be happy to address them.

[ogomez]

there are about 1000 applicants for both tests, about a 50/50 split. Good luck.

[catchtwenty2]

Does anyone have any idea how many PF&R expects to hire off either list?

Thanks & good luck to all!

[chawk12]

Does anyone have any information about when veteran's preference points are used in the process? Trying to determine if they are added to written score or added to the overall combined score from the written/oral boards. Any info is appreciated.

[GoCougs]

Jasper 17, I love Portland. It is beautiful. Nature really is showcased here. The weather is nice now, but of course that will change in the winter. People are very active and seem to enjoy the natural beauty. It is a big city that has a small town feel. The vast majority of people are white. People drive slower. There is a lot to do, and each neighborhood has its own character. There is no sales tax and you can't pump your own gas. The cost of living is less than San Diego as well, but more than other areas of the country I'm sure.

Honestly, I like Portland much better than San Diego. I am glad I took a leap of faith and moved up here. The only neagtive that people who have lived here for a long time tell me, is of course the weather. It is beautiful from June until September, but otherwise, it tends to be very grey and misty. I guess I will find out, as I moved here in May.

The reason I moved from San Diego was for a change of pace. I had lived in Southern California my entire life, and I wanted to live somewhere different. I had a job lined up and decided to just go for it. I don't have children yet or anything holding me down, so why not?

If you have any questions that I did not answer, I would be happy to address them.


I agree with that description of the city. I moved from the Seal Beach area 2 years and have not looked back. Portland is a great city, and would be my dream come true if/when I get a job with PF&R. Im looking forward to this test. Even though I did really well on their last test Im hoping to do even better (getting hired) this go around.

[Nozzleman25]

Does anyone have any idea how many PF&R expects to hire off either list?

Thanks & good luck to all!

A guess would be about 60 max, probably fewer. They hire pretty equal off each list.

I just looked at the seniority list and about 150 or so are eligible to retire in the next couple of years. That includes those with just 25 years in and a lot are staying closer to 30.

We are already slowing down our hiring, still hiring regularly but from what we have been told is that the groups are going to get a little smaller, back to 12 hires instead of the 16 they have been doing lately. Still a lot of new hires though and a fantastic department to work for so Good luck to all of you that are taking the test.

[GoCougs]

Do you know if they hired all 80 off of the Trainee list of 2006?

[Nozzleman25]

I don't know how many they took, I will see iff I can find out tomorrow when I am on duty again.

[GoCougs]

Ok thank you

[GaiusPaul]

Only a few more days. Good luck to all. :)

[GoCougs]

Ill be there at 7:30. I cant wait. Ive been looking forward to taking this test for awhile now.

[Nozzleman25]

Heres the totals that applied this year.

1400 Recruit/trainee applicants, and 1000 Firefighter applicants.

[GoCougs]

Is that about normal? I would think that there would be more FF applications then Trainee applications. Im happy with those numbers though. Sounds like I have a better chance of getting hired

[GoCougs]

So I heard from somebody that PF&R is not doing oral boards this year since they are going with the FireTEAM test. Is this true?

[Nozzleman25]

Not sure what the test is going to involve. Rumor is the orals and written are all part of the initial test. They really haven't told us anything about it though.

As far as numbers from the lists that came out in March 07. Total of 95 hired, 76 still here. Went to 105 on the FF list. You can pretty much split the totals to figure out how many ended up coming off each type of list since they hire pretty equal from each. Hope that helps a bit.

[GoCougs]

I am surprised to hear about those numbers. I remember being told that they were going to hire 80 off of the trainee list alone. Maybe they are not done hiring off of that list. I sure wish that I could find out what my scores were from the final interview and where I finished/sit on the trainee list

[GaiusPaul]

Nozzleman, thanks for taking the time to look into this for us. :)

[chawk12]

Anyone know how parking is near the convention center?

[GoCougs]

Good luck with parking. You might be able to find some on the side streets. I plan on taking MAX the light rail. It will drop you off directly at the convention center

[chawk12]

I'm coming in from the airport. Where can I park to catch the light rail to the convention center?

[pro300]

this might be a little late but you can actually take the light rail from the airport to the convention center and not have to worry about parking by the convention center. otherwise they usually offer parking beneath the convention center for a small fee($5 when i tested in 04) or if find an open spot on the street you'll have to feed the meter or risk getting a ticket.

in regards to the hiring numbers, they will still be hiring off this list until the new list is established off the test on 8/1, which i would imagine would be sometime in early spring. does that sound about right nozzleman?

[GoCougs]

this might be a little late but you can actually take the light rail from the airport to the convention center and not have to worry about parking by the convention center. otherwise they usually offer parking beneath the convention center for a small fee($5 when i tested in 04) or if find an open spot on the street you'll have to feed the meter or risk getting a ticket.

That is what I was going to recommend. I don't think that the Max ride from the air port cost that much.


in regards to the hiring numbers, they will still be hiring off this list until the new list is established off the test on 8/1, which i would imagine would be sometime in early spring. does that sound about right nozzleman?

I was told by Lt Jackson that this is true. So maybe I stil have a chance off of the trainee list. It is probably a small chance but its still a chance

[chawk12]

So how did everyone do on the test? I think it went ok. I thought my bladder was going to burst when they restarted the math portion of the test in the morning section. I knew not to drink anything and was still hurting. Going in I saw guys with vente lattes and I was thinking to myself, you guys are in for sooo much pain! Anyway, hope you all did well. Also wanted to thank nozzleman for all the information on the process and the cities intentions.

[Nozzleman25]

in regards to the hiring numbers, they will still be hiring off this list until the new list is established off the test on 8/1, which i would imagine would be sometime in early spring. does that sound about right nozzleman?

Bobby, I would expect a list to be out sometime in the fall. Written results and then PAT and Chiefs interviews should put it sometime late fall in my best guess. I know they told you all 2 weeks for results and if they get them out that fast it would be a record, I would figure somewhere closer to the end of them month sometime. I have never seen them get results on any test out in 2 weeks.

If I can help with anything else just let me know.

[chawk12]

Hey nozzleman,
So will they combine the scores from the written with the chiefs interview for the final rankings on the list? Or will the rankings simply come from the written scores? I'm also trying to find out how and when veteran's points are added. Any idea if we have to pass the written before they are factored in? Any information about this would be appreciated.

chawk12

[GaiusPaul]

So how did everyone do on the test? I think it went ok. I thought my bladder was going to burst when they restarted the math portion of the test in the morning section. I knew not to drink anything and was still hurting. Going in I saw guys with vente lattes and I was thinking to myself, you guys are in for sooo much pain! Anyway, hope you all did well. Also wanted to thank nozzleman for all the information on the process and the cities intentions.


It was a stretch for my bladder. Although I was able to go when they were seating, since it took about 1.5 hours to seat everyone in the morning. I was expecting something WAY harder for the math and reading. It's the situational that'll get me I bet. This is my first test, and it has to be a FireTeam. :D

[Nozzleman25]

Hey nozzleman,
So will they combine the scores from the written with the chiefs interview for the final rankings on the list? Or will the rankings simply come from the written scores? I'm also trying to find out how and when veteran's points are added. Any idea if we have to pass the written before they are factored in? Any information about this would be appreciated.

chawk12


Chawk, I don't know what the process is going to be for determining the list. Used to be that the written and then the interview phase of the test were combined and then the chiefs interview was a pass fail type system. With this system being completely new to us none of us on the line know, at least no one I have talked to.

I don't know when they insert Vet points, if I had to guess it would be when they score the written but that is a complete guess.

[whatbrown]

I was shocked at how easy the math and reading section was on the test. That is bad for me because those are my strong points, and I feel that almost everybody will score high in those areas. It's tough to know how I faired on the situational questions because the best and worst answers were not obvious most of the time. They seemed pretty subjective. Obviously, that's how they want it though, to see how you handle difficult and touchy scenarios.

I wish all of you luck and hope to see you further in the process.

[ogomez]

Last word has been: test/ PAT/ Then interview. This takes out the 3 person first interview. No official word yet, just the scuttle butt.

We initially got a report of around 1200 total for both tests then the following week the total doubled

[chawk12]

Anyone heard anything yet? I'm out of state so I will likely be several days after the first few letters arrive locally.

[nwfire17]

Nothing yet even for us locals...

[3rdFloor]

I just walked down the hall and asked the recruiter. Word is: Letters should go out next week. If you haven't heard by September 2, call.