SHERWOOD, Ore. (KPTV) – Tualatin Valley Fire Rescue encouraged the community to search for jobs in the fire service at its 4th Annual Career Day held Saturday at the Sherwood Training Center.
Career Day was more than just a lineup of demonstrations. Participants had the opportunity to take part in a number of hands-on activities, including rescuing people from crashed cars, connecting a hose to a fire hydrant, and driving a fire truck.
“I love what I do, but I want to see what else is out there that I can still do while I’m still young,” said Career Day participant Rubin Lotari. Ta.
Rotari has been a registered nurse for the past six years. He said that while he loves his current job, becoming a firefighter might be a better path for him. He came to Career Day to find out.
“I think when I became a nurse, I realized that my passion was helping people,” Lotari said. “I’ve always liked being on the ground floor of things and being at the forefront of things.”
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For others, choosing a career has become easier.
“I’ve wanted to be a firefighter since I was 4 years old,” said Jonathan Benjamin, a firefighter and paramedic with TVF&R.
As Benjamin grew older, that dream remained the same. While he was playing football at Portland State University, he had the opportunity to ride along with the local fire department. Benjamin said he was a good fit.
“Even though I’m out in the workforce, I still have that yearning to get back on the team. The fire department is very team-oriented, so it felt like the right thing to do,” he said.
Benjamin said if you have a passion for public service and want a high-energy, team-oriented work environment, being a firefighter may be the career for you.
“If you have a good heart, a good brain, a good soul, and you want to work hard, you want to get better, you want to always have something challenging every time you go into work, and on top of that you want to prepare for retirement, etc. You think, “Those great things, this is the place,” Benjamin said.
TVF&R’s open recruitment for firefighters and paramedics will begin in February 2025. Paramedic certification is required to qualify.
Click this link to learn more about a career with TVF&R
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