By Robert S. Hong
Pasadena Star-News (California)

PASADENA, Calif. — A record number of people hoping to get a job with the Pasadena Fire Department came out in droves to the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday to take the Firefighter Trainee written exam.

"Our total number of applicants is 2,077 — that is the largest number anyone can remember," said PFD Chief Dennis Downs.

Two testing sessions were offered — one in the morning and another in the afternoon —  to accommodate everyone who flocked to take the exam, which gauges learning abilities and the way applicants process information, officials said.

Those hundreds of applicants will compete for just 12 training positions scheduled to open up in March 2009, officials said.

Ever since 9/11, Downs said, there's been a surge of applicants for fire department jobs, not only in Pasadena but in most every city. But the state of the economy, marked by high unemployment, might also have played a part in bringing out the record number of applicants Friday, Downs believes.

The department will keep a list of all the applicants on file for the next two years, giving the department a large group from which to draw potential firefighters, he added.

"With this large a pool, your looking at hundreds and hundreds of candidates that are all equally capable," he said.

From the top scorers on Friday's exam, department officials will select a group of candidates who will be interviewed by a panel. The lucky few who make the cut will then be personally interviewed by the chief.

Candidates are chosen based on several criteria, Downs said. Test scores are part of it, but Downs is also looking for attitude and determination, which he says cannot be measured by an exam.

"Really, what I'm looking for is the candidate that is willing to put others ahead of his or her self," he said.

"The one that has the attitude to do whatever it takes — whenever asked — to serve our residents of Pasadena."