Oregon Revised Statutes Public Officers and Employees § 242.704

(1) ORS 242.702 to 242.824 do not apply to any political subdivision which under its charter, ordinances or regulations has a civil service system covering the employees of its fire department which substantially accomplishes the general purposes of ORS 242.702 to 242.824. However, such political subdivision shall retain such exemption only so long as the civil service system upon which the exemption is based remains in effect.

(2) The civil service shall include all employees of the fire department of a political subdivision which employs four or more firefighters on a full-time basis, not including the chief. The governing body of the political subdivision shall decide whether the chief may be a member of the civil service.