BRUNSWICK, Maine — Two local firefighters were among 15 to complete the rigorous training of the Fire Service Institute Officer Training Academy, preparing for leadership roles at fire departments across the state, as they graduated on Jan. 17, 2015 during a Southern Maine Community College Ceremony.
Deputy Chief Jesse Belanger and Captain Joshua Belanger of the Northern Lakes Fire Department spent four months of preparation and homework course assignments along with 96 hours of full days of classroom instruction, which began Jan. 9.
“I am very proud of what these men have accomplished,” said Northern Lakes Fire Department Chief Darren Woods. “This education will help our department to continue along the path of becoming more resilient and professional. This is not a small achievement, they dedicated a lot of time away from home in order to ensure the safety and dependability of our department will continue to excel and provide exceptional service to our citizens.”
The Belanger brothers were joined in their studies by potential fire officers from Auburn, Augusta, Bar Harbor, Bath, Calais, Lewiston, Rockland, Saco, and Windham.
The training focused on legal issues, budgeting, media relations, personnel matters and other topics that are part of the job for full-time and volunteer chiefs and other fire officers, according to Maine Fire Service Institute Director Bill Guindon.
“This academy provides training to prepare current and future officers by learning from the past and present and preparing for the future,” he said. “Instructors are seasoned veterans, some of whom have undergone the same training themselves.”
There are about 425 fire departments across Maine with an estimated 8,000 firefighters, about 1,000 who work full-time, Guindon said.
The institute holds officer training academies yearly. 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.
