ROCKLAND – Brian Sullivan’s walking route to school as a child led him past Augusta’s Hartford Fire Station. On a few occasions, as he passed, a crew member inside happened to be sliding down the fire pole.

“I thought that was the coolest thing ever,” he said, Thursday.

Sullivan, a full-time firefighter with Rockland for seven years as well as 11 years with the Appleton Fire Department, accepted another pin to his uniform and title to his name, Thursday, July 19, at the Rockland Fire and EMS station.

“I started with no idea what I was doing and now I'm assistant chief [for Appleton],” he said.

Already looked upon for training and education by co-workers, Sullivan will continue to do so as lieutenant within a career field he’d walked past as a youth, but hadn’t considered until later on.

A year and a half trial of a four-year college life, followed by an associates degree in the culinary arts didn’t stick. For about 12 years he worked his way around the restaurant scene, from line cook to chef, including Primo when it first opened. 

It was the college-level courses in emergency services taken along the way, however, that held strong. (Though being able to provide great meals to his co-workers when it’s his night to cook at the station doesn’t hurt. “Fish Tacos are usually a big hit, but a simple steak salad or traditional Carbonara, are good as well,” he said. “Pad Thai or roast chicken are regular dishes.”)

In 2015, Sullivan received Fire/Officer training. In May 2018, he completed a propane safety course, and he’s an instructor at the Firefighter Service Institute in Brunswick.

Add in the weekly training at the Rockland Fire Station and twice monthly drill nights for full-time and call division for a constant rotation of instructing and learning.

“I teach courses and I take courses,” he said. “You can’t train too much for this job, so I try to do as much as I can.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com