Lets go Mainers!!!

[Firefighter164]

Lets go Mainers, lets get some posts in here!

[backdraft04901]

WOW, this is a smokin forum!!!!!

[Firefighter164]

I know it right? we gotta get some more maine firefighters in here! concidering we are the best at what we do. what department do you work for?

[backdraft04901]

Sorry it took so long to get back to ya. I work for the Winslow Fire Dept. I just started back in January, so i'm new to all this stuff. Too bad we can't get more people in the forum though.

[leylandauto]

So 164, Where in Maine are you? I responded to your query about full time work in Maine but would like to get some more information.

[leylandauto]

I am a Paramedic/Firefighter with Sanford. I am in my 23rd year there. I live and volunteer in Alfred for the Rescue and the Fire Departments. I also work per diem for Wells EMS three times a month. I was just up in Gray last weekend helping a guy put the engine back into a 1960 MGA. Where do you want to work? How can I help you?
Carl W. French
Alfred, Maine

[Firefighter164]

I would really love to work for the Portland Fire Department, once i recieve my paramedic license, and become of age to apply, I will do so and hopefully be a firefighter/paramedic there. Do you have any recomendations that could posibly increase my chances of getting that job?

[leylandauto]

CPAT CPAT CPAT CPAT CPAT!!!!! Make sure you can pass it now and do it at least every week till you test. Are in a Medic program now? Which one? You do realize in Portland it is not really a dual role situation. There are more options but it is still a very separate line. I can't blame you for wanting to go to Portland, it is the 'big city' around here. Medcu 5 is the busiest 911 truck in the area. My truck does 2400 runs a year which does not count fire calls. My partner and I are preceptors for the 'new' SMCC program.

[KeithA8]

Hey guys,
I have some land in Alfred. I'm from Connecticut but I know your area very well. I took Portlands test about 6 years ago and got a job offer. I did a ride along with them and it was great! A realy good bunch of guys! I never took the job because I couldn't justify the pay cut. I often wonder if that was the right decision. If I wasn't married with kids I would have gone with out a thought.
When I took the test I never asked what the pay was. I assumed it was simalar to Connecticut because Portland is such a big city and in good financial shape. It wasn't until the job offer when I realized what it was. I was shocked and disappointed. And the Chief was POed at me for waisting his time on putting me through all the testing steps. Well I'm happy here but I always wanted to live in Maine.

[leylandauto]

You might make less in Portland but you might want to look at the total price of moving. Like comparing the housing costs in the quantitative and the qualitative aspects (wicked low crime, friendly people etc) I came here from Mass right out of school. I knew that I wanted to start here and spend my life here. I had my first house at 22. Give it a thought. Till last year one of our medics would drive down to Hartford and put in a 24 with AMR. They were paying large money and it paid to travel. So, where in Alfred do you have land???

[Firefighter164]

KeithA8...What was the starting salary when u were offered the job? and were you an EMT?

[KeithA8]

leylandauto & Firefighter164:
I thought long and hard about what what you are saying. And I agree the lifestyle is fantastic up there! But dollar for dollar it wasn't worth the pay cut. Everything cost the same except housing. I already owned the land so that wasn't even a factor. At the time I think the starting pay was $18k and I was making $65k with overtime. The guys on the job said that there is no overtime at all. So to cut my pay by 2/3 made no sense. My wife would have to find a job too. Her field of work pays crap up there. If I wasn't already on the job I would have followed my dream and gone. Some days I wonder if I made the correct decision. Where I am in life now would never had happened in Maine. I'm a mortgage broker part-time making very good money and have everything I ever wanted. (except a life in Maine)Yes I am an EMT which helped me get the job offer.

My land in Alfred is off of Gore Rd. accross the street from Shaker pond. There is a little dirt road with a few houses on it and I'm back there. Some day soon I want to build a camp on it. The MSA ITS trail runs through it. Do you know the guy who owns Walnut Grove? He's a firefighter in Sanford. I met him last year.

[Firefighter164]

Is that all.....how much can you work your way up too over an average career? Im looking to apply as a Firefighter/Paramedic will that increase it any?

[Firefighter164]

Is that all.....how much can you work your way up too over an average career? Im looking to apply as a Firefighter/Paramedic will that increase it any?

[KeithA8]

I'm not sure what they pay now. That was about 6 years ago. In there contract it took 6 years to reach top step firefighter which at the time payed around $39k. Now you see why I didn't take the job. And I thought for a city that size and that financialy secure it payed more.

[Firefighter164]

What would be some sugestions for someone looking to get a job for them? im not planing to apply till i'm a licensed EMT-P, but what were some steps that you took?

[leylandauto]

Do you mean Portland? I would start working on your FF degree at smcc right now. Make sure you can smoke the CPAT test. AND FOR GOD SAKES VOTE NO ON QUESTION 1 IN NOVEMBER!! There will be so many layoffs in the public sector, it will take ten years for someone to get a job in any FD. It is going to be such a disaster I imagine that Gray FD could be closed. I know in Sanford we will loose between 12 and 21 FFs out of 43 depending on which calc formula you use. Portland is talking about loosing 165 positions.

[KeithA8]

Firefighter164:
I say that you get in the best condition you can get in! They did not do the CPAT when I took it, but it was the hardest agility I ever took. Fitness was one of the most important things to them at the time. I don't think college degrees get you the job, but that's my opinion. They will help you get promoted once you're on. Paramedic is always a good thing - EMT is a minimum now a days. When I took Portlands test it wasn't your degree - it was your order of rank which was an average of 3 tests (written, agility, oral). They hired in order at the time which not all depts do. Why else would they offer a job to an out of stater with no degree? Out of the 3000 people who took the test I finished #6. They hired 15 in my group. 3 of us were out of staters without degrees. I think you should take every test you hear about even if you don't want the job 'cause it makes you better at taking the tests. I've taken 32 tests in my time and only got 4 job offers.

leylandauto:
School me on what you're talking about. What is this vote that is going to effect so many FDs? If Portland is going to lose 165 positions then I'm glad I stayed here.

[Firefighter164]

What i dont understand is that Portland's CPAT is on a pass/fail basis now so even if u are the "best" you still only passed. which is kind of bad because im confident I'd do fairly well on it.

[Firefighter164]

Yeah here their not talking about getting rid of the department, but they're saying that if that is passed then we will charge for every service we offer. Right now we charge for rescue calls requiring transport. We should start a group called "Firefighters agaisnt Question 1" lol.