Maine Fire Protection Services Commission

The Maine Fire Protection Services Commission acts as the state's central advisory authority, delivering annual, evidence-based evaluations to the Governor and Legislature on fire safety systems, budgetary requirements, and resource allocation. In addition to its reporting function, the Commission promotes firefighter education and training through specialized fund administration and partnerships with government entities serving both career and volunteer firefighters. The Commission is empowered to develop technical procedural standards and host public hearings to identify and respond to evolving needs within the fire service sector. Fundamentally, the Commission connects local operational demands with state-level policy by developing and proposing legislation designed to strengthen fire protection and life safety across Maine.

Meetings

Meetings are held at 9 AM on the first Monday of each month, both in-person and virtually.

  • Location: Champlain Conference Room, Maine Department of Public Safety, Augusta
  • Zoom link Meeting ID: 897 3609 0724 Passcode 946438

2026-No meetings will be held in July and August.

Archives

Coming soon***

Members & Governance

The Commission consists of 23 members appointed as follows:

  1. Chief Dan Brooks (Chair)), Fire Chief and member of the Maine Fire Chief's Association
  2. Gerry Gay (1st Vice Chair) (Ret.), Professional Fire Fighters of Maine
  3. Ronald Green (2nd Vice Chair), Professional Fire Fighters of Maine
  4. Senator Scott Cyrway, Maine Senate
  5. Senator Chip Curry, Maine Senate
  6. Rep. Stephan Bunker, Maine House of Representatives
  7. Rep. Michael Lajoie, Maine House of Representatives
  8. Rep. Dean Cray, Maine House of Representatives
  9. Chief Shawn Esler, State Fire Marshal
  10. Chief Robby Gross, Maine Forest Service
  11. Steven Greeley, Director of Workplace Safety & Health Division, Bureau of Labor Standards
  12. Wil O'Neal, Director of Maine Emergency Medical Services
  13. Steven Mallory, Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency
  14. Chief David Groder, Fire Chief and member of the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association
  15. Jim Graves, Director of State Fire Training at Maine Fire Service Institute
  16. Catherine Nadeau, Public Advocate
  17. DC Ken Desmond, Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters
  18. Chief Larry Willis (Ret.), Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters
  19. Chief Joe Guyotte, Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters
  20. Chief Darrell White, Maine Fire Chiefs' Association
  21. Vicki Schmidt, Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters
  22. Governor's Office Appointee, VACANT
  23. Representative from Insurance Industry, VACANT

Best Practices Award

The Best Practices Award was established by the Fire Commission in 2002 to highlight individuals, fire/rescue departments, agencies, organizations, communities and others within Maine who show initiative and creativity; develop, adopt and improve the best ideas; and encourage and support safety and health for emergency responders in Maine. The award is given periodically as "best practices" are identified, with an annual presentation at the "Maine Fire/Rescue Services Day at the Legislature". Awards are publicized by press release and posting here, on the Commission web site.

  • Best Practices Award Nomination (coming soon)

Professional Development Conference

The Maine Fire Services Institute and Maine Fire Protection Services Commission co-sponsor an annual Professional Development Conference. This conference has a long history of bringing together the region's fire and rescue personnel, emergency managers, law enforcement officers as well as municipal officials and providing a great venue for learning and the sharing of ideas as well as best practices. Networking opportunities makes the MFCA's Professional Development Conference at Sunday River the premiere Fire/EMS Conference in the region. For more information, visit the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association website.

Live Fire Training Facilities Grant

Maine Fire Service Protection Services Commission's Live Fire Training Facilities Grant

Firefighters in the State of Maine are required by the Maine Bureau of Labor Standards to train, maintain, and be proficient in tasks before performing those tasks on the fire ground. Since 2021, and with continued funding of Public Law 444, Title 20-A MRSA Section 9004, three live fire training facilities have been built to current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Repairs for several other LFTF's have also been awarded. It is the goal of the LFTF Program to have facilities that meet and maintain NFPA standards within an hour's travel time for at least 90% of Maine's firefighters. 

Please view our Training Facility Projects section for more information, photos, and reports on Maine's Live Fire Training Facilities.

Cancer Reduction Grant

In July of 2023, the 131st State legislature passed LD 516 creating Public Law, Chapter 437, Section 1, 5 MRSA sub-sec. 3373. This law established the Firefighter Safety Equipment Fund to provide grant funds to allow fire departments to purchase safety equipment related to reducing cancer. A one-time, non-lapsing appropriation from the general fund of $250,000 was provided for FY 2024-2025. In accordance with this law, the Commission shall establish criteria to award grants to fire departments. In accordance with the law, the Commission will adopt rules to implement and administer the program. Such non-technical rules adopted by the Commission shall be pursuant as defined in Chapter 375, sub-chapter 2-A.

The 2024-2025 grant is complete. Link to grant materials

Wildland Fire Committee

The Maine Forest Service has full responsibility for wildland fires in the State of Maine under Title 12 Section 8002 and 8901.As an appointee to the Maine Fire Commission, the Supervisor of Forest Fire Control is the chair of the Wildland Fire Committee. The Wildland Fire Committee will guide the Fire Commission on issues related to wildland fire, wildland fire trends, and needs for Maine's Fire Service.