Prince George's County,Maryland Firefighter/EMT 2010

[pipeman1822]

Sorry, I confused furloughs with the volunteer VSU days.

And no, I do not work for PGFD. I was a live-in and volunteer in the county while I work for another department.

For anybody who wants a better idea about thigns that go on in the county you can check out the watch desk forum. You'll be able to find a lot more people who work/volunteer in PG to give you info.
http://thewatchdesk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13

Just a heads up though, while TWD has some great guys that can really help, it's also a different type of forum. It's not as "professional" you could say as these are. I'm not a huge fan of the way people are starting to act on here anymore either, but it's a different world on there with more drama and rumors.

[somebody509]

Just a heads up though, while TWD has some great guys that can really help, it's also a different type of forum. It's not as "professional" you could say as these are. I'm not a huge fan of the way people are starting to act on here anymore either, but it's a different world on there with more drama and rumors.

That's the point. The watch desk gives a better representation of how the department is....

[MANOFSTEEL]

It seems to me like a pretty decent deal, lots of calls, room for employment/growth, what more could you ask for?

[FFEMTlieut804]

ya i was going to put a app. in before but i didnt b/c of the rumor of dept. problems but I always wanted to be in PGco. b/c of the number of runs( get to see all types of calls), and the growth.... I'm erger to start and see what happens.

Does anyone know if the rumor of 200 plus pple needed to be hired? and how is the hiring process like? Thanks

[MANOFSTEEL]

Ya 200+ people is a lot to hire, pretty exciting news. Anyone here have any input on how their academy is?

[PGPipeMan]

There's around 100 vacancies, and the word around the firehouse that there's around 200 eligible to retire. Alot may retire around july or december. The union supported county exec hopefully takes office in january and he's dedicated to increasing the staffing levels.

This just might be the test to take

[munnugles]

anyone know what test they give and when will the test be given?

[SeagraveBaby]

yes,expect PGFD to hire 200+ over the next 3 years. this is a good opportunity here that you should not pass up. but also let me warn you that they require for you to be a paramedic in order to get promoted to lieutenant and that you maintain that medic cert through out your career.

[FireCowboy1]

Let me ask you this Seagrave. I've been through a number of processes with career/volunteer departments in which the vollies who went through the process were showed extreme preference (which I can understand in some ways). Do you know if this is true with Prince George's?

[SeagraveBaby]

for many years IN PG being a volunteer did not add any extra brownie points in reference to you being hired, but the last fire chief of Prince Georges hired a large amount of volunteers during his 5 year tenure as chief. most felt as if this was his way of trying to weaken the volunteer system.

[FD01]

Sounds like a good opportunity with a busy department. I placed my application online through the county website. Hopefully the process goes through and doesn't cancel as the other departments I tested for did. Thanks to the guys that work or volunteer with the department for keeping the rest of us informed as to what is going on.

[SMEL3756]

How exactly does OT work in PG? After looking at the L-1619 website, am I understanding that anything other than your regularly scheduled hours is time and a half? Also, how fast do firefighters top out in pay? For example, BCFD starts out on the low side, but salaries rise pretty quickly. Are the PG guys pretty happy with their benefits? It shows that retirement is 60% of the last 2 years, is that the average of the HIGHEST 2 years? Is the multiplier still 3? Just curious, what's with the medic requirement to get promoted? I mean, obviously they need medics, but DAMN!

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't know much about PG.

[PGPipeMan]

How exactly does OT work in PG? After looking at the L-1619 website, am I understanding that anything other than your regularly scheduled hours is time and a half? Also, how fast do firefighters top out in pay? For example, BCFD starts out on the low side, but salaries rise pretty quickly. Are the PG guys pretty happy with their benefits? It shows that retirement is 60% of the last 2 years, is that the average of the HIGHEST 2 years? Is the multiplier still 3? Just curious, what's with the medic requirement to get promoted? I mean, obviously they need medics, but DAMN!

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't know much about PG.

Let's make it easy by saying that if you work anything over 80 hours in the 2 week payperiod its OT. Holidays are time and a half also.

I can't remember off the top of my head how fast you top out. Because between a merit raise and cola raise etc. I want to say you top out completely around 17-18 years and they can raise the top pay depending on the contract. I think 3 years ago the top pay was 68 or 69k, and now its up to 71k. Now we havent gotten any raises in the past 2 years due to the economy, however, a new contract probably wont be signed until next year.

Healthcare benefits are excellent, I have Cigna open network so i can go to any doctor i want and no need for a referral.

As for retirement, I dont know what the last 2 years salary means. At 20 years its 60 percent of your base salary of your last year. At 30 years its 85 percent of your highest base salary. At retirement you can turn in annual/sick leave to earn credited service years. Say you retire at 25 years of service yet have 5 years worth of annual/sick leave(which is easily possible) You would retire with 30 years of credited service and would retire with 85 percent of your highest base salary. There is also an optional 457b retirement plan that you can invest automatically through payroll.

As of right now, you need emt-I to promote to fire technician and above. There is rumor that they are gonna drop the emt-i requirement for at least fire technician, and maybe down the road all together for everything.

I am not a medic, nor do i plan to become a medic. But they offer the program through the department and you can have it accomplished within a year. You get a 10 percent raise for emt-I and another 10 percent for emt-p.

And every rank above that is another 10 percent raise.

[SMEL3756]

PipeMan - Thanks, bro. One more question: How was recruit school?

[halligan7]

the application process is NOW OPEN...the DEADLINE IS June 18th...it is expected that they will hire 200+ off this list over the next 3 years...

Good Luck to all..


http://agency.governmentjobs.com/pgc...FwddxPacket%3E

Are there positions available for transfers from paid fire departments in other states? Since I am a paid FF/EMT can I take the exams and challenge the FF1/2 and EMT tests for MD??

Thanks

[pipeman1822]

Are there positions available for transfers from paid fire departments in other states? Since I am a paid FF/EMT can I take the exams and challenge the FF1/2 and EMT tests for MD??

Thanks

No, you have to take the test like everyone else. They also put you through their own academy to teach you THEIR way. PGFD operates differently than pretty much anywhere else in the country. DCFD is the only department similar in my opinion. Their academy might also teach you a lot you didn't know. A big city academy is much longer than a state one taught by a community college.

[halligan7]

No, you have to take the test like everyone else. They also put you through their own academy to teach you THEIR way. PGFD operates differently than pretty much anywhere else in the country. DCFD is the only department similar in my opinion. Their academy might also teach you a lot you didn't know. A big city academy is much longer than a state one taught by a community college.

Great, thanks for the info pipeman. I have no issue with learning and would welcome the training. My application is submitted.

[8truckie3]

So does all the career firefighter's work 7-3 sched? And the Capt.s work the 24/72 . Or do some of the ff's wrk 24/72?

[SMEL3756]

So does all the career firefighter's work 7-3 sched? And the Capt.s work the 24/72 . Or do some of the ff's wrk 24/72?

From another website: You're either a dayworker, working M-F 0700-1500hrs or a shift worker on a 24/72 shift schedule.

I think that covers ALL field personnel.

[1-502 BH]

what is the area like up there, as far as raising a family?