Training Facilities

 

Upcoming Meetings

  • Monday, April 1, at 9:00 at the Conference Room, Maine Department of Public Safety, Augusta, Maine.  To join with Zoom go to:              

          https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83242482740?pwd=bnI3bmhsZFA4N1NFQjNoZXd3SmRaQT09

Meeting ID: 832 4248 2740

Passcode: 250402

  • Next meeting: Monday, March 4, 2024.  (Most meetings are held the first Monday of each month)
  • Future Meetings:
    • Chiefs Conference Wednesday, March 27 - 29
    • April 1, 2024
    • May 6, 2024
    • June 3, 2024

News!

The Maine Fire Protection Commission has selected Robby Gross (Maine Forestry), Gerald Gay (Professional Fire Fighters of Maine), and Vicki Schmidt (Maine State Federation of Firefighters) to serve on Maine's first Community Risk Reduction program being administered through the Office of the State Fire Marshal

Maine Fire Protection Commission Letter of Support for current legislative proposals being considered by Maine's 131st Legislature - February 2024

The Maine Fire Protection Services Commission is established to monitor and evaluate the State's fire protection services system on a continuing basis and to provide recommendations to the appropriate state agencies and to the Legislature regarding necessary changes in the fire protection services system. The commission is created by a public law, 5 M.R.S.A. §3371, as passed in 1999 by the second regular session of the 119th Legislature.

The Commission Consists of 23 Members Appointed as Follows:

  1. Two members of the Senate who sit on the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over fire protection matters, appointed by the President of the Senate;
  2. Three members of the House of Representatives who sit on the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over fire protection matters, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
  3. The State Fire Marshal or the Fire Marshal's designee;
  4. The Supervisor of the Forest Fire Control Division of the Maine Forest Service or the Supervisor's designee;
  5. The Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards or the Director's designee;
  6. The Director of Maine Emergency Medical Services or the director's designee;
  7. The Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency or the director's designee;
  8. One municipal Fire Chief who is a full-time Fire Chief and a member of the Maine Fire Chief's Association, appointed by the Governor;
  9. One municipal Fire Chief who is a volunteer Fire Chief and a member of the Maine Fire Chief's Association, appointed by the Governor;
  10. One municipal Fire Chief who is paid on call and a member of the Maine Fire Chief's Association, appointed by the Governor;
  11. Six firefighters appointed as follows:
    • Two career firefighters who are members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine, appointed by the Governor;
    • Two call firefighters who are members of the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters, appointed by the Governor; and
    • Two volunteer firefighters who are members of the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters, appointed by the Governor;
  12. The Administrator of the Maine Fire Training and Education Program within the Maine Technical College System, or the Administrator's designee; and
  13. Three persons appointed by the Governor, including:
    • One member representing the Governor's office;
    • One public member; and
    • One member representing the insurance industry.

Duties of the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission

  1. Regularly advise the Governor and executive officers, the Legislature, the Maine Forest Service, municipal fire departments and any other parties affected by its recommendations regarding fire protection services;
  2. Submit a report containing the results of its studies, findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over fire protection services matters by December 31st of each year. As resources permit, the report must include:
    • A detailed assessment of existing and needed resources within the State's fire protection services system, including capital needs for training facilities, funding options for facilities and oversight and administration of any training facilities;
    • A detailed assessment of expected resource needs in the State's fire protection services system and recommendations for funding those needs, including an evaluation of the appropriate level for the fire premium tax and bond initiative proposals;
    • An evaluation of existing fire prevention, fire suppression, fire safety and fire training strategies and programs, including recommendations for improvements, new programs and strategies, funding options for training and oversight and administration of any training funds;
    • Recommendations for effective management of resources within the State's fire protection services system;
    • Recommendations for enhancing the collection and distribution of fire data, particularly as these data relate to increasing the fire protection services' capacity to fight fires and save lives;
    • Recommendations regarding evaluation methodology for the State's fire protection services system;
    • Recommendations for recruitment and retention of volunteers, including a length-of-service incentive program for volunteer firefighters;
    • Recommendations for creating a health insurance bridge for retired career firefighters;
    • Recommendations for creating a fund to be used to provide a death benefit for firefighters and emergency medical services persons who die in the line of duty;
    • Recommendations regarding fire investigation and inspection needs of the Department of Public Safety, Office of State Fire Marshal; and
    • Recommendations regarding grants available for fire training and fire protection needs;
  3. Develop rules of procedure necessary to carry out its duties. Rules adopted Pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A;
  4. Adopt rules to carry out the purposes of Title 30-A, chapter 154, Maine Firefighter Training Fund. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A;
  5. Conduct public hearings, conferences, workshops and other meetings to obtain information about and discuss and publicize the needs of and solutions to problems concerning the State's fire protection services;
  6. Assist all governmental agencies with firefighter training and education responsibilities to enhance their delivery of services to fire prevention, protection and life safety professionals, including paid, call and volunteer fire service members; and
  7. Submit proposed legislation to the Legislature to implement any recommendations of the commission.