PHOTO: Learning to drive firetrucks takes training. (Submitted photo)
By Vicki Schmidt
Fire Protection Week 2022 has come and gone, but the training of firefighters who protect the citizens of Maine from fire and other hazards never ends. While the variety of fire training programs is diverse, there are three primary ways we train firefighters in Maine – local and regional fire training programs, training through the Maine Fire Services Institute, and associate and technical degrees via Southern Maine and Eastern Maine Community Colleges
Local and regional fire training programs involve individual fire departments along with regional chief and firefighter groups. These programs are most often taught at local fire stations on evenings and weekends. Active regional training programs, such as the Penobscot County Fire Academy, graduate dozens of certified firefighters every year.
Training through the MFSI is provided in 16-hour classes that lead to earning Firefighter I & II, Fire Officer, Emergency Vehicle Driver Training and a variety of other certifications. These also occur across Maine nearly every weekend. Classes are held at local fire stations, weekend fire schools, week-long academy style programs and at MFSI in Brunswick.
Maine’s two-year graduate degrees programs via SMCC and EMCC also include a Public Safety Live-In Program that provides “occupation ready” training. Live-In programs are provided throughout the state with 30 fire and EMS stations in 17 communities. These degree programs also require four full-time semesters and 62 credit hours of study. Many SMCC/EMCC Fire Science graduates are quickly employed as municipal or industrial firefighters, while others pursue careers in fire forensics, fire engineering, or as safety technicians and fire inspectors.
No matter where or how firefighters are trained in Maine, they must all certify their training through MFSI’s testing and credentialing programs. Live-Fire end-testing is conducted at affiliated sites that are supported by MFSI and the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission fire facilities grant program.
All certified fire training in Maine is taught to National Fire Protection Association standards (NFPA 1001) Frank Hammond, MFSI training program manager, notes that it takes approximately 275 hours of classroom and hands-on-training to prepare a firefighter for today’s fireground. Firefighter candidates are also expected to complete workbooks and online training; freeing up precious time for practicing and entrenching advanced skills that will be needed throughout their careers.
Successful firefighters never stop learning. Once a firefighter has completed their basic firefighter programs, they move on to more specialized training. Many advanced skills are taught at progressive levels of Awareness, Operations, Technical and Specialist. Awareness-level programs are generally eight hours, with Operations and Technical levels 16-24 hours each. Specialty levels require 40 hours of training. The most common advanced programs for Maine firefighters are 16-hour of Hazardous Materials Operations, Basic and Advanced Pumps (water delivery) and National Fire Academy programs such as Incident Safety Officer and Fire Ground Company Operations.
It is also common to find Maine firefighters training to technical levels for ice, cold and swift water rescue, low and high angle rescue, along with wilderness rescue, among others. These advanced courses allow firefighters to assist other public service agencies, such as the Maine Forest Service, Maine Marine Patrol and the Maine Warden Service with search and rescues.
In addition to the hours firefighters devote to their fire training, MFSI’s cadre of nearly 100 State Fire Instructors add thousands of hours to managing programs and training Maine firefighters. Fire Instructor I & II certification is granted to those who meet required qualifications and pass certification examinations. Professional development on an annual basis is also required for MFSI’s Fire Service Instructors. Local fire instructors, who serve at the town and mutual aid levels, also play a vital role in training and ensuring their firefighter skills are mission-ready.
As with most of Maine’s firefighters, time spent training is often volunteer. Supporting your local firefighter training programs is a great way to say thank you for the service firefighters provide.
– 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.
