01/15/2010:  NOTIFICATION TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITIONS OF PF&R FIREFIGHTER EMT/PARAMEDIC AND FIREFIGHTER TRAINEE:

PF&R FIREFIGHTER EMT/PARAMEDIC APPLICANTS:  As of 4:30 pm on January 13, 2010, the position of PF&R Firefighter EMT/Paramedic has reached the 1,500 maximum applicants and applications are no longer being accepted.    

PF&R FIREFIGHTER TRAINEE APPLICANTS:  Applications are still being accepted for the position of PF&R Firefighter Trainee.  However, the PF&R Firefighter Trainee open recruitment is NEAR ITS MAXIMUM OF ACCEPTING 2,500 APPLICATIONS and will close on FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010 at 4:30 pm.  GET YOUR APPLICATIONS IN NOW!

WHERE CAN I GET AN APPLICATION?

Applications are available for the position of PF&R Firefighter Trainee. Note that only 2,500 applications will be accepted for the position of Firefighter Trainee. Get your application in now!

You may apply online at http://www.ci.portland.or.us/jobs or pick up an application at the following locations: 

Portland Fire & Rescue Training & Safety Division

4800 NE 122^nd Avenue

Portland, OR 97230

8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Portland Fire & Rescue Administrative Office
55 SW Ash Street
Portland, OR 97204
8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Portland Bureau of Human Resources Application Center
Portland Building
1120 SW 5^th Avenue

Portland, OR 97204
8:00 am – 4:30 pm

WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?

Please submit written applications to the Portland Bureau of Human Resources at 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Room #404 in Portland, Oregon 97204.  Online applications will be submitted online.

WHAT'S ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

Complete and submit your application. If your application is not accepted, you will be notified by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Human Resources.

If your application is accepted, you are automatically invited to the video-based, written, multiple-choice test on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at the Oregon Convention Center located at 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97212.  

The examination times will be scheduled based on the first letter of your last name.  The test will start promptly as scheduled.  

BRING IDENTIFICATION TO THE TEST

To participate in the video-based written test, bring photo identification with you.  This could include a driver’s license or DMV ID. 

WHAT NOT TO BRING

Please note that purses, backpacks, bags, cellular phones, pagers, calculators, or any other electronic devices will not be submitted into the testing area.  If you bring any of these items, YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED AND MUST SECURE THEM ELSEWHERE.  Due to testing requirements and confidentiality, anyone found with one of these devices in the testing room will be immediately disqualified. 

BE AWARE

Additionally, this is a timed, two-hour, video-based written examination, and no there will not be any scheduled restroom breaks.  Food and drink will not be allowed in the testing area.

FURTHER QUESTIONS?

Click here for frequently asked questions about the 2010 Firefighter Trainee and Firefighter EMT recruitment process. For more info, click here!  

January 15, 2010

January 19, 2010

Chicken with Black Bean Salsa

Black Beans Salsa Ingredients:

• ½ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
• ¼ cup fresh corn kernels
• 1 tablespoon chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
• 4 grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered 

Chicken Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon butter
• Cooking spray
• 1 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast half
• Dash of salt
• Dash of freshly ground black pepper
• Lime slice (optional)

Preparation:

1. To prepare salsa, combine first 9 ingredients, tossing well to combine.
2. To prepare chicken, heat butter in a small nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with dash of salt and black pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 6 minutes on each side or until done. Serve with salsa and, if desired, lime slice. Yield: 1 serving (serving size: 1 chicken breast half and ¾ cup salsa).

425 calories, 12.2g fat, 48.4g protein, 29.1g. carb, 867mg sodium

January 20, 2010

Firefighter Joel, Station 8  The Faces of Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) is new to the Fire Blog and will be a permanent fixture.  Our goal is to connect Fire Blog readers with the men and women of PF&R -- men and women who proudly risk their lives day in and day out to keep the citizens of Portland safe and those who serve alongside them in carrying out this mission.  And so we bring you the first Face of PF&R - Station 8's Firefighter Joel.

 Left: Firefighter Joel and Truck 8;  Right: Firefighter Joel (second from left) and his crew

Joel was born in Omaha, Nebraska but ended up in Lincoln, Nebraska where his Dad had taken a position as the Principal of Lincoln Northeast High School and then eventually started a brand new school, Lincoln Southwest High School.  When Joel followed in his father's footsteps to play football at the University of Nebraska (U of N), his parents were right there to watch and support him.  Joel’s Dad played football at U of N in the 60’s and it was Joel’s dream to make his Dad proud.  The chance to become a Cornhusker and play football for one of our country's biggest football schools was not just handed to Joel - he persevered.  For two years, Joel walked-on until he earned a scholarship.  He was the starting left guard his senior season on the offensive line known as the "Pipeline" which is considered by many one of the best offensive lines ever in college football history. It was in 1994 that Joel had the experience of a lifetime.  During the final minutes of the 1994 National Championship Game, our own Joel - #76 made several key blocks as an offensive guard, opening the door to a come-from-behind victory.  Playing against NFL greats Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis, Nebraska scored twice in the fourth quarter to beat the University of Miami by a score of 24-17 on their home turf.  After losing the championship the year before by just one point, it was a sweet victory for Joel and the University of Nebraska.  Joel noted it was a “storybook ending” to his career, a real dream come true. When the game ended, Joel scanned the stands for his father - the man he fondly describes as the single biggest influence in his life.  Joel's best memory from that game was jumping a 10 foot wall to find his Dad and hug him.

Joel went on to earn a Master's Degree in Exercise Science and followed his family out to Oregon.  Working in a downtown Portland physical therapy clinic that specialized in back and neck injuries, Joel's clients included several staff from Portland Fire & Rescue including Deputy Chief Glen Eisner and Battalion Chief Duane Bray.  It was through conversations with them that Joel became interested in becoming a firefighter.  In 2005, Joel showed up at the Oregon Convention Center with 4,000 other people, the line snaking around the building, to take the PF&R firefighter test.  After passing the initial test, Joel moved on to the panel interview, and then to the physical agility test, passing each phase.  Joel recalls that the final and most intimidating part of the hiring process was the interview with the Chiefs.  Upon successfully completing the hiring process, Joel realized his dream of becoming a firefighter with Portland Fire & Rescue.  

After traveling from station to station for a time, a requirement for all new firefighters, Joel worked his way into a permanent spot on Engine 8.  Joel has been at Station 8 since 2007 and serves the Arbor Lodge, Kenton, Piedmont, and Sunderland neighborhoods.  His favorite part about being a firefighter is being a part of a team and helping others.

When he's not putting out fires or responding to emergencies, Joel enjoys spending time with his wife, one-year-old son, and is eagerly awaiting the spring arrival of a new Baby Boy.  Joel notes that he and his wife are shooting for starting a football team! Joel also enjoys fishing with his Dad in Southern Oregon and has found a way to continue his passion for football while giving back to the youth in our community.  Since 2000, Joel has been an assistant coach for the Lake Oswego (LO) Lakers varsity football team, helping with their offensive line from August to November.  Joel met Steve Coury, LO’s Head Football Coach, when working at the Portland physical therapy clinic and has helped coach the team to three State Championship games.   

Joel also enjoys working out.  He is a Peer Fitness Trainer for PF&R where he promotes fitness and helps to improve firefighter health, wellness, fitness, safety and performance. For those who share his love of exercise, Joel has provided a sample workout for you below.

And can you guess what Joel's favorite movie is?  If you guessed a football movie, you would be right.  It's Rudy!

Thank you Joel for sharing your story with the Fire Blog and being the first Face of PF&R!

January 22, 2010