Fire Extinguisher & Suppression Technician

GOEBEL FIXTURE COMPANY; Albany (OR); On-site; USD 30,307 - 41,328; Full time

Job summary

Valley Fire Control in Albany, Oregon is seeking a field-based technician to service portable fire extinguishers and pre-engineered kitchen suppression systems. You will inspect, test, maintain, repair, and install equipment, often meeting customers face-to-face.

Entry pay starts at $22 per hour, with potential to reach around $40 as you gain certifications. Training, PPE, and a company vehicle are provided to support daily routes.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to work independently once trained.
• Residence within approximately one hour of Albany, Oregon.
• Valid driver’s license with no major driving violations in the last 3 years and no DUIs in the last 7 years.
• Ability to climb ladders, walk and climb stairs, and work in commercial kitchens, mechanical rooms, and occupied buildings.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs regularly, and to maneuver larger cylinders and wheeled units with assistance.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, test, maintain, repair, and install portable fire extinguishers per NFPA 10 and local codes.
• Inspect, test, maintain, repair, and install pre-engineered kitchen wet chemical suppression systems per NFPA 17A and 96.
• Perform recharge and hydrostatic testing of cylinders as required.
• Service and install Amerex, CaptiveAire, and related equipment lines.
• Support related suppression work as certifications develop.
• Identify deficiencies and clearly communicate required repairs to customers.
• Quote and sell straightforward corrective and additional service work onsite.
• Document all work accurately using company software (iPad-based).

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Fluent English

Valid driver’s license

Ladder climbing

Independence

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

iPad-based software

Job description

• Location 217 Main Street Southeast,Albany, OR, 97321,United States
• Base Pay $22.00 - $30.00 / Hour
• Employee Type NonExempt - Full Time
• Required Degree High school
• Manage Others No

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.

Why This Role Exists

Portable fire extinguishers and kitchen suppression systems are the foundation of this company. Albany has been doing this work for decades, and it is where the trade is taught inside our group — technicians from our other markets travel here to learn it.

Our Oregon customer base keeps growing, and the schedule is full. We need another technician who can own a route, service it properly, and keep customers compliant without constant oversight.

This is an established market with real work already on the books. You are not building a territory from nothing here — you are taking on customers who already expect us.

Requirements

About the Role

This is a field-based, hands-on role. Most days you will service portable fire extinguishers and pre-engineered kitchen wet chemical suppression systems — inspecting, testing, maintaining, repairing, and installing.

You will be in front of customers constantly, often as the only person from our company they see all year. We need someone who represents us well, spots additional needs, and is comfortable recommending the right fix.

We hire at every level of this role, including candidates with no fire protection experience.

If you are experienced and certified, there is real money at the top of the scale below. If you are starting from zero and have the aptitude and work ethic, we will train and certify you — and you will learn it here in Albany from people who have done it for years.

What You'll Do

• Inspect, test, maintain, repair, and install portable fire extinguishers in accordance with NFPA 10 and applicable local codes
• Inspect, test, maintain, repair, and install pre-engineered kitchen wet chemical suppression systems in accordance with NFPA 17A and NFPA 96
• Perform recharge and hydrostatic testing of cylinders as required
• Service and install Amerex, CaptiveAire, and related authorized equipment lines
• Support industrial, vehicle, clean agent, and special hazards suppression work as your certifications develop
• Identify deficiencies and clearly communicate required repairs, upgrades, and additional services to customers
• Quote and sell straightforward corrective and additional service work while onsite
• Pass larger opportunities to our sales team with enough detail for them to follow up well
• Document all work accurately using company software (iPad-based)
• Coordinate with dispatch, schedulers, and customers to keep work moving
• Maintain truck stock and order supplies so you are ready for the next job
• Follow safety protocols and PPE requirements on every job
• Help train newer technicians, including technicians visiting Albany from our other markets
• Represent Valley Fire Control professionally in every customer interaction

Who You're

• Reliable — customers and schedulers can count on you to show up and finish
• Positive and personable — customers like working with you, and it shows in repeat business
• Comfortable recommending work — you can spot a need and explain it without being pushy
• Self-sufficient — you plan your route and do not need someone looking over your shoulder
• Technically curious — you want to understand how the equipment actually works
• Coachable — you want to add certifications and scope over time
• Willing to teach — Albany trains the rest of our group, and eventually that includes you
• Aligned with our values: Customer First, Grit, Effective Communication, Own the Outcome, Take Pride in the Work, and Do the Right Thing

Who Struggles Here

An honest filter:

• If you would rather not talk to customers, this is the wrong trade — you are in front of them all day
• If you want a fixed task list handed to you each morning, this will not suit you
• If certifications and continuing education feel like a burden, your pay will stall here
• If a messy commercial kitchen or a hot mechanical room is not for you, skip this one

Minimum Qualifications

Required of every candidate, including entry level:

• High school diploma or GED
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to work independently once trained
• Residence within approximately one hour of Albany, Oregon
• Valid driver’s license with no major driving violations in the last 3 years and no DUIs in the last 7 years
• Ability to climb ladders, walk and climb stairs, and work in commercial kitchens, mechanical rooms, and occupied buildings
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs regularly, and to maneuver larger cylinders and wheeled units with assistance
• Comfort using tablets and cloud-based software
• Fluent in spoken and written English
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen

To be placed above the entry rate:

• 4+ years of hands-on experience testing, inspecting, maintaining, and installing portable fire extinguishers and pre-engineered kitchen wet chemical suppression systems
• Active NAFED or ICC certification in portable fire extinguishers and pre-engineered kitchen fire suppression systems

No prior fire protection experience is required to start at the entry rate. We will train and certify the right person.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active NAFED or ICC certification in extinguishers and pre-engineered kitchen systems
• Recharge and hydrostatic testing experience
• Clean agent or special hazards suppression experience
• Dry chemical, industrial, or vehicle suppression system experience
• NICET certification in Special Hazards Suppression Systems
• Manufacturer training on Amerex, CaptiveAire, or clean agent platforms
• Oregon Backflow Assembly Tester certification
• Cross-training in fire alarm or fire sprinkler inspection
• Prior route sales or customer-facing service experience
• Bilingual (Spanish or other languages)

Compensation

This role follows a structured, development-based hourly scale. Compensation is tied to demonstrated capability, licensing, and certifications — not tenure alone.

• Entry level, no prior fire protection experience: $22.00 per hour
• Experienced technician with 4+ years in the trade: $30.00 per hour
• Target base: $40.00 per hour

Your base grows toward $40.00 per hour as you build capability, add certifications, and take on more scope. That progression is performance-based rather than automatic, but a technician meeting expectations should expect to get there.

• Eligible under the Standard Sales Incentive Plan for additional service and equipment work you sell onsite
• Overtime is paid for hours worked over 40 in a workweek

Incentive earnings are performance-driven and are not guaranteed. Full plan documents are provided during the hiring process.

Summary

Why This Role Works

• An established route with customers already on the books — no cold start
• A published base path from $22.00 to a $40.00 target, with the requirements spelled out
• Paid training and certifications — we pay for the credentials that raise your wage
• You learn the trade at the office that teaches it to everyone else in our group
• Take-home company vehicle and tools provided
• High-trust, high-ownership environment with no micromanagement
• Backed by a multi-state regional fire protection group focused on the long term
• 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
• The company pays approximately 90% of the employee premium on the HSA-qualified medical plan, plus a substantial share of dependent premiums
• Health Savings Account with a $600 annual company contribution
• 401(k) with Safe Harbor employer match up to 3.5%
• Paid time off starting at 10 days annually and increasing with length of service
• Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance
• Employee Assistance Program, telehealth access, and optional pet insurance
• Company vehicle for business use, with fuel, maintenance, and insurance covered
• Paid training, certifications, and continuing education
• iPad and tools provided
• Paid training and certifications, including NAFED or ICC, clean agent, and special hazards credentials
• Clear pay progression tied to skill and certification development
• Full-time, Monday through Friday
• Daily local travel across the Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene; occasional travel to the Oregon coast, Medford, Washington, and Idaho
• Occasional after-hours or on-call work as needed
• Work performed in commercial kitchens, restaurants, occupied buildings, mechanical rooms, and active construction sites
• Regular ladder and stair use, lifting and carrying equipment and cylinders, and work in hot, cramped, or dirty conditions
• Required PPE provided and expected on every job

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.