BRUNSWICK —Rockport Fire Chief Jason Peasley and Camden firefighter Cheyne Hansen completed an eight-day Maine Fire Service Institute’s Fire Officer Academy training last week in Brunswick, along with 17 other firefighters from across Maine.
The program is to help prepare participants for leadership in fire departments. The institute is a department of Southern Maine Community College and provides training and education services to Maine’s fire agencies and firefighting professionals.
Besides Camden and Rockport, graduates represented Auburn, Augusta, Camden, Gardiner, Lisbon, Rockport, Saco, Waterville, Wells, Westbrook, West Gardiner and Winslow fire departments.
The training focused on legal issues, budgeting, media relations, personnel matters and other topics that are part of the job for chiefs and other fire officials, said Maine Fire Service Institute Director Bill Guindon, in a news release.
“We teach firefighters how to put out fires,” Guindon said. “That’s the easy part. For this, we’re putting them through the wringer on leadership, team-building, media relations, conflict resolution and the politics of the job. This is about preparing future leaders.”
SMCC President Ron Cantor said: “The academy is a partnership between the Maine Fire Service Institute and fire departments across Maine to help them prepare for the future. The bar has been raised for fire department officers, and expectations are high.”
There are approximately 425 fire departments across Maine with an estimated 8,000 firefighters, 1,000 of whom work full-time, Guindon said.
The institute holds officer training academies every three or four years. Those who complete the academy meet the training requirements for national fire officer certification through the Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System, also known as Pro Board.
Elements of the program included written and oral communication skills, preparing for promotions, training and coaching, working in the community, creating a budget, labor relations and working with unions, crew resource management, presentation skills, detailed case studies, advice and encouragement from veteran fire officers, subject matter experts and fire command simulations.
Participants in the program received instruction from fire chiefs, investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, representatives from the Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Standards, Workplace Health and Safety Division and legal experts, including Providence, R.I., retired Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Curt Varone.
Camden’s Assistant Chief Andrew Lowe, Lieutenant Robert French, Jr., and Chief Chris Farley are alumni of the program.
“Completion of this program should help firefighter Hansen develop a solid foundation for future career growth and aid the Camden Fire Department in providing safe, quality fire & rescue services to the community,” said Farley, in a news release.
