Position: Full-Service Fire & Life Safety Inspector
Company: Valley Fire Control, LLC
Location: Albany, OR or Newport, OR — we are hiring in both markets (must reside within approximately one hour of your assigned office)
Reports To: Oregon General Manager
Employment Type: Full-time, hourly, non-exempt
Bargaining Unit Status: Non-union
Travel: Daily travel within your assigned territory; occasional travel between the Albany and Newport markets, and occasional travel to Medford, Washington, and Idaho
About Valley Fire Control
Valley Fire Control is a fire and life safety company serving customers across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We design, install, inspect, and service pre-engineered and engineered fire suppression systems, portable fire extinguishers, kitchen suppression systems, fire alarm systems, and fire sprinkler systems.
In 2025 we joined Columbia Safety Services. Between our sister companies we deliver full-scope fire protection: fire alarm, fire sprinklers, clean agent suppression, backflow prevention, kitchen suppression systems, portable extinguishers, and related life safety equipment. FFF Protection, our Idaho operation, is a trade name of Valley Fire Control, LLC.
We are part of a growing multi-state fire protection group focused on building something long-term. We respect the trades, run a disciplined operation, and care about doing the work right.
Our core values guide how we operate: Customer First, Grit, Effective Communication, Own the Outcome, Take Pride in the Work, and Do the Right Thing.
Most building owners would rather call one company for every inspection on their property. Many of ours are already calling us for kitchen systems and portable extinguishers and asking whether we can take the rest. We can — if we have inspectors who can carry every scope.
This is the seat we would most like to fill. An inspector who can walk into a building and handle the fire alarm, the sprinkler system, the backflow assemblies, the hydrants, the kitchen suppression, and the portable extinguishers in a single visit is worth more to us and to the customer than three people making three trips.
We also know this person is rare. If you are that inspector, this posting is for you, and we will pay accordingly.
If you hold most of these scopes but not all, apply anyway.
We are also hiring a dedicated Fire Sprinkler Inspector & Service Technician and a dedicated Fire Alarm Inspector & Service Technician in these same markets. We would rather talk with you about the right fit — and a paid path toward full scope over time — than have you screen yourself out.
This is a field-based, inspection-weighted role covering the full range of fire and life safety systems we service. You will perform inspection, testing, and maintenance across alarm, sprinkler, backflow, hydrants, kitchen suppression, and portable extinguishers, and handle the minor repairs and deficiency correction that come out of your own inspections.
Complex repairs, system modifications, and installation work are carried by our service technicians and install crews. Your value here is breadth and inspection quality, not swinging a pipe wrench all day.
You will work independently, manage your own day and route, communicate directly with customers, and represent the company well.
Every field fire alarm position in our companies is expected to become Edwards certified. If you are not certified yet, we pay for the training.
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Perform fire alarm inspection and testing in accordance with NFPA 72
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Perform sprinkler inspection, testing, and maintenance in accordance with NFPA 25 on wet, dry, preaction, deluge, and antifreeze systems
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Perform backflow assembly testing and complete required Oregon Health Authority documentation
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Inspect and flow test fire hydrants and private water supply components
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Inspect, test, and service portable fire extinguishers in accordance with NFPA 10
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Inspect, test, and service pre-engineered kitchen suppression systems in accordance with NFPA 17A and NFPA 96
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Sequence multiple scopes into a single efficient site visit
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Complete minor repairs and deficiency correction arising from your own inspections
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Identify deficiencies and clearly communicate required repairs, upgrades, and code-driven corrections to customers
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Quote straightforward corrective work onsite and pass larger opportunities to our sales team with enough detail for them to follow up well
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Document all inspections and tests accurately using company software (iPad-based) and submit reports to AHJs and customers on time
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Coordinate with schedulers, project managers, and customers to keep work moving
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Mentor single-scope inspectors working toward cross-training
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Represent Valley Fire Control professionally in every customer interaction
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Broadly capable — you are comfortable across systems instead of expert in only one
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Methodical — you take inspections seriously and your reports hold up under scrutiny
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Self-sufficient — you plan your own route and do not need someone looking over your shoulder
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Customer-focused — you explain findings in terms a building owner can act on
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Commercially aware — you can spot a deficiency and confidently recommend the right correction
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A teacher — you are willing to bring single-scope inspectors along
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Aligned with our values: Customer First, Grit, Effective Communication, Own the Outcome, Take Pride in the Work, and Do the Right Thing
An honest filter:
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If you want to run one scope and only one scope, take a look at our dedicated sprinkler or alarm postings instead
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If documentation is an afterthought, this is the wrong job — the report is the deliverable
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If you prefer install work to inspection work, this seat will bore you
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If you let certifications lapse, your pay and your scope will stall
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7+ years inspecting and testing commercial fire and life safety systems
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Demonstrated inspection capability across fire alarm, fire sprinkler, backflow prevention, and portable extinguishers and kitchen suppression systems
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Active Oregon Limited Energy Technician (LEA) license
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Oregon Backflow Assembly Tester certification
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NAFED or ICC certification in portable fire extinguishers and pre-engineered kitchen suppression systems
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Working knowledge of NFPA 10, 17A, 25, 72, and 96, and of NFPA 70 (NEC)
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Confined space training, or willingness to obtain it, for backflow vault work
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Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
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Strong computer and mobile device skills (iPad, Microsoft Office, cloud-based apps)
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Fluent in spoken and written English
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Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen
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Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, work at heights, and navigate active jobsites and occupied buildings
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NICET certification in Fire Alarm Systems and/or Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems (Level II or III)
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City of Portland fire alarm and fire sprinkler technician licensing
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ASSE backflow tester credential
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Hydrant flow testing and private water supply experience
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Clean agent or special hazards inspection experience
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Fire pump testing experience (electric and diesel)
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Edwards EST programming certification
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Washington 06 Limited Energy or Idaho Limited Energy Electrical license
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Washington State Patrol Sprinkler Fitter or Inspection & Testing (I&T) Certificate of Competency
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Bilingual (Spanish or other languages)
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Hourly rate: $48.00 – $57.00 per hour
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The top of this range applies to inspectors holding full licensing and certification across every scope listed above, with 7+ years of documented inspection experience in all of them
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Placement in the range also reflects licensing across multiple states and the market you work in
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Overtime is paid for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
Compensation is tied to demonstrated capability, licensing, and certifications — not tenure alone. Where you land in the range reflects how much of the full scope you can carry independently on day one
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Your breadth is the point — you will use every certification you hold instead of one of them
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Inspection-weighted schedule without an install-heavy workload
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Take-home company vehicle, tools, and paid certifications
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A strong existing customer base ready to absorb full-scope inspection service
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High trust, high ownership, and no micromanagement
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Backed by a growing multi-state fire protection group focused on the long term
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Medical, dental, and vision insurance through Regence BlueShield, Delta Dental of Washington, and VSP — available to employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week, effective the first of the month following or coinciding with your hire date
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The company pays approximately 90% of the employee premium on the HSA-qualified medical plan, plus a substantial share of dependent premiums
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Health Savings Account with a $600 annual company contribution
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401(k) with Safe Harbor employer match up to 3.5%
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Paid time off starting at 10 days annually and increasing with length of service
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Eight paid holidays
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Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance
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Employee Assistance Program, telehealth access, and optional pet insurance
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Company vehicle (van or truck) — take-home, with fuel, maintenance, and insurance covered for business use
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Paid training, certifications, and continuing education
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iPad, laptop, and tools provided
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Clear pay progression tied to skill and licensing development
Schedule & Work Environment
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Full-time, Monday through Friday
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Occasional after-hours or on-call work as needed
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Daily travel within your assigned territory; occasional travel between the Albany and Newport markets, and occasional travel to Medford, Washington, and Idaho
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Work performed at commercial customer sites, including occupied buildings, mechanical and riser rooms, roofs, ladders, and active construction sites
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Confined space entry for backflow vault work — training provided if not already certified
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Required PPE provided and expected on every job
If you can inspect all of it and document it properly, we want to talk. If you can inspect most of it, we still want to talk.
Valley Fire Control, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
Employment with Valley Fire Control, LLC is at-will and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause or notice, consistent with applicable law.
