A 28-year Portland fire veteran will soon take over as chief of Clark County Fire & Rescue.
John Nohr, chief of the emergency operations division for Portland Fire & Rescue, starts his new job on May 1, according to Clark County's interim chief, Ron Oliver.
Nohr was one of five finalists for the job, which will pay him about $133,000 a year, Oliver said.
Nohr, 49, ran Portland Fire's three primary divisions during his tenure, working as its emergency operations chief, fire marshal and training chief. He joined the department when he was 21, after nearly two years as a student firefighter in Gresham and a year working in a Seattle suburb.
Oliver praised Nohr's wide-ranging experience with Portland Fire and said colleagues described him as being the smartest and most unassuming person in any room.
"He's just a down-to-earth guy," Oliver said. "He's well liked, well respected in Portland Fire."
Nohr said he's cherished his time with Portland Fire, calling it "an outstanding organization full of a lot of great people." But he says he is ready for a change and is excited about contributing to a "top-notch fire department" in Clark County.