Fire Department · Combination
South Lane County Fire & Rescue
Cottage Grove, OR · Lane County
23 career operations personnel across three shifts (7 per shift: 1 Division Chief/Paramedic, 2 Captain/Paramedics, 2 Engineer/Paramedics, 2 Firefighter/Paramedics, 1 Apprentice Firefighter/EMT), supported by Resident and Community Reserve Firefighter/EMTs
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when South Lane County Fire & Rescue is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗South Lane County Fire & Rescue (SLCFR) was established July 1, 2003 as an Oregon special district under ORS Chapter 478, consolidating fire protection for a 132-square-mile area that includes Cottage Grove, Creswell, and the surrounding rural communities of southern Lane County. The district runs four stations and a fleet of engines, tenders, brush trucks, and medic units, answering over 5,300 calls in 2024 alone, a volume that has grown 62% since 2011 as the district's population has expanded.
Every career operations position at SLCFR is cross-trained to the paramedic level, so firefighters here respond to structure fires, wildland incidents, and advanced life support medical calls alike. The department also runs a Student Resident program that houses aspiring firefighter/EMTs at the Cottage Grove station while they pursue an Emergency Medicine or Fire Science degree, pairing classroom work with real shifts alongside career crews.
MissionWe protect life, property, and the environment through quality service.
SLCFR's Join Our Team page lists openings for career firefighter/paramedics and its Student Resident program, which houses aspiring firefighter/EMTs at the Cottage Grove headquarters station while they complete college coursework. All career operations personnel are cross-trained paramedics, with certification requiring a two-year Associate's degree plus hospital and ambulance internships. A district Civil Service Commission oversees hiring, promotion, and discipline for classified employees, including testing, eligibility lists, and appeal hearings.
Hiring process
- Call (541) 942-4493 for program information or to request an application
- Visit the Cottage Grove headquarters station in person, Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM
- Submit the completed application
Benefits
Student Residents receive station housing, a monthly living-expense scholarship, and a tuition scholarship covering up to 12 credits toward an Emergency Medicine or Fire Science degree, plus hands-on training alongside career staff. The department also describes valuing work-life balance with supportive leadership and time for family and personal growth.
How do I become a firefighter with South Lane County Fire & Rescue?
SLCFR hires career firefighter/paramedics through its district Civil Service Commission, which runs testing and eligibility lists for classified positions. Openings and the Student Resident program are posted on the department's Join Our Team page.
What is the Student Resident program?
The Student Resident program houses aspiring firefighter/EMTs at the Cottage Grove headquarters station while they pursue an Emergency Medicine or Fire Science degree, offering a monthly living-expense scholarship, a tuition scholarship for up to 12 credits, and hands-on training alongside career crews.
Do South Lane County Fire & Rescue firefighters work as paramedics too?
Yes. All career operations personnel at SLCFR are cross-trained to the paramedic level, which requires a two-year Associate's degree plus hospital and ambulance internships, so crews handle both fire and advanced life support EMS calls.
How do I apply for the Student Resident program?
Call (541) 942-4493 for information or to request an application, or visit the Cottage Grove headquarters station in person Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, to submit a completed Student Resident Application.