Are there overtime requirements in fire districts employing fewer than five firefighters?
A. Yes. State law requires that any “regularly organized fire department,” maintained by a city, municipality or fire district and employs four employees, must pay overtime anytime a firefighter works more than 56 hours in a week. Such fire departments may average the hours worked per week over each quarter of the fiscal year for the purpose of calculating overtime. Fire departments employing fewer than four firefighters must pay overtime for any week that a firefighter works more than 72 hours. The fire department may average the hours worked per week over each quarter of its fiscal year for the purpose of calculating overtime. ORS 652.
