FIRE SAFETY WITH VICKI: Maine’s life fire training trifecta

By Vicki Schmidt

July was a momentous month for Maine’s firefighters, as a third state-of-the-art live fire-training facility went into service.
The completion of the training sites in Farmington, Fairfield and Yarmouth mark the start of an aggressive LFTF program that serves all of Maine. Maine is one of only a few states in the U.S. without a centralized fire training center. In fact, even today, none of the fire training centers in Maine are owned or operated by the state. Feasibility studies in the early 1990s put the cost of building a centralized facility for Maine at more than $50 million. While several locations partially met the needed criteria, no one location proved suitable. Major limiting factors to many locations were lack of nearby water infrastructure; geographical constraints to travel from all parts of the state, which limited the number of firefighters that could be efficiently served; and unsuitable geotechnical characteristics (soil and rock that make up the land).
While the vision of a centralized facility was attractive, it did not appear to be the answer for Maine. In 2016, the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission provided an online survey to all of Maine’s fire departments, including the Maine Forest Service. More than 80% of those surveyed responded, giving the commission valuable information. A major goal determined from this survey: “establish a LFTF within an hour’s travel time for at least 90% of Maine’s firefighters.” In 2018, the commission sponsored legislation to provide grant funding to municipalities that agreed to establish a LFTF for their region. With the fully unanimous passing and funding support of LD 1845 by the 128th Maine Legislature, Maine’s fire services community worked diligently to reverse the lack of live fire training facilities in Maine.
Historically, most live fire training in Maine was conducted in acquired structures. Because of costly hazard mitigation (lead paint, asbestos, etc), concerns from neighbors, and insurance and liability issues, acquired structure live fire training is rarely an option and no longer recommended.
The National Fire Protection Association sets standards for live fire training facilities. Maine’s newest structures are fully NFPA1403 engineered and are specifically designed to meet the required training objectives for state and national firefighter certification. The value of the state funding and its return on investment to provide the basis for these facilities is well proven in Maine. The funding is significantly leveraged by local towns who secure donations, volunteer time, and provide hours of work and services to further magnify the grant funding. Furthermore, the grant design ensures the commitment, integrity, and responsibility for the future longevity of these regional facilities. This is a fully win-win situation for local, mutual aid, and regional towns, taxpayers, the firefighters of Maine, and most importantly, the residents and property we are dedicated to protect.
Strategically located facilities provide many advantages: reduced costs to students and municipalities for travel, and firefighters can train with their own apparatus. Additionally, NFPA facilities are consistent in their design and operation making them more predictable and efficient to instruct with. Instructors and program managers can better plan and manage all types of training in these facilities; particularly live fire training, which is some of the most challenging to teach, especially with new recruits.
Maine needs several more LFTF’s to achieve the goal of a facility within an hour’s travel time for the majority of our states firefighters. Unfortunately, funding to continue construction of LFTF for Maine has been curtailed and our most rural areas remain under served. The fire commission will continue to work with Legislators, local officials and other dedicated fire service organizations in order to achieve this goal.
To learn more about the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission and its projects, visit maine.gov/dps/fmo/about/commission.

– Vicki Schmidt is a Maine state fire instructor and volunteers with the Buckfield Fire Department, as well as several regional and state fire training organizations.