The Maine town of Scarborough has grown significantly over the last decade, and its fire department sees 6,000 calls for service each year. The Scarborough Fire Department has 52 full-time firefighters across six fire stations, and 10 new firefighters will soon be added to the mix after they complete a rigorous four-week training program.
The Pleasant Hill Fire Station was used as a training ground on Wednesday. In one scenario, the two-story fire station served as an imaginary residential home that had a fire on the second floor. The trainees had to figure out the best way to rush in and rescue any potential victims who might be trapped.
Deputy Fire Chief Ian Tenney directed the scenario as the new hires pulled fire hoses and ladders into the building. “Envision the stairs are partially or completely failed and we’re going to turn this ladder into a flight of stairs, okay?” Tenney said.
Yuliya Paquette, a 21-year-old from Unity, went to college in southern Maine and then worked at the Waterville Fire Department for a year and a half. As one of Scarborough’s new firefighters, she is anxious for a new challenge.
“I’m a little nervous in terms of it’s a new place. I have to learn the new ins and outs of Scarborough, but I’m mostly really excited,” Paquette said. “I love it here. I’m having an awesome time. I’m very excited to start on shift in a few weeks.”
Tenney said he has seen amazing strides among the new hires since the training scenarios began on Nov. 3.
“This is a team sport. Nobody does anything alone. It’s been really heartwarming to be honest with you, to watch them grow individually but then grow as a series of partnerships,” Tenney said. “They all lift each other up, which is great.”
Once the new hires are fully trained, it will allow Scarborough to fully staff three of its six fire stations. The department also has a new ambulance arriving at the start of the New Year.
“It will allow us to staff that third ambulance. It’s adding staffing on a daily basis, career staffing, to supplement our per diem and our call force,” said Deputy Chief John Brenna. “This is going to be a great benefit to us once these guys hit the streets.”
This class of new hires will continue their rigorous training through the end of November and there will be a graduation ceremony on Dec. 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Scarborough Public Safety Building. Some of the graduates will be on the job the very next day.
