RUMFORD – Eleven volunteer firefighters have been taken off the Rumford Fire Department call roster until they complete additional training.
The action was taken after last week’s inspection by the Bureau of Labor Standards, a state agency under the Department of Labor that tracks Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.
Fire Chief John Woulfe said the department has 11 other volunteers and 14 full-time firefighters who are qualified to respond to calls.
Woulfe said last week’s inspection was the first one since he became chief six years ago. He said meetings are being scheduled with all officers in the volunteer ranks who will oversee and assist in the training.
“We’ve never pushed the training because of the time and commitment needed of the call force, now we have to,” he said.
He said at least 30 hours of training must be completed by all volunteer firefighters before they can respond to a fire alarm. Additional training must be completed before volunteers can enter a burning structure.
The 30 hours include training on: hazardous materials, blood-borne pathogens, fire extinguishers, ladders, hoses, portable equipment and ventilation of buildings.
Woulfe estimated about $8,000 will be needed to conduct the proper training.
Richard Cyr, president of the Maine Federation of Firefighters, a statewide organization that represents 8,600 of the state’s 9,300 professional and volunteer firefighters, said the increasing number of regulations makes it difficult on volunteers.
“It’s hard for them to find the time for the training,” he said. “They’ve got to be really dedicated. That’s why we have such a hard time finding people.”
Cyr is a member of the all-volunteer Madawaska Fire Department. He said his town requires that all volunteers complete the 150 hours of training needed to meet Firefighter I status within a year or so of joining the department.
He said he objects to the increasing number of regulations that require extensive training for all volunteers.
“There is a place for everyone in the fire station as long as it’s not in the hot zone. There are so many things around the firehouse that people can do,” he said.
He said a department can be cited if volunteers aren’t properly trained. He said the bureau generally gives fire departments a chance to meet requirements before taking such steps.
The loss of 11 volunteer firefighters in Rumford will affect operations, said Woulfe.
“We’ll supplement with mutual aid and more of a burden on the full-timers. The town now realizes the volunteers are an asset and now must focus effort and money on it,” he said.
He said those who wish to help the Fire Department could instead choose to take the county-run Citizens Emergency Response Team training. With that, volunteers could direct traffic at fires or do less hazardous duties.
If a volunteer opts to continue further to Firefighter I status, he or she must complete training for self-contained breathing apparatuses and mask testing, among other things.
Adam Fisher, director of public affairs for the Department of Labor, said Thursday that he can’t comment on the Rumford inspection until it’s resolved.
“Towns are usually given time to assess the situation. If there are good faith efforts, there are no fines,” he said, adding that if people are doing dangerous work, then they need a certain amount of training.
He said that technically, he can’t confirm that an inspection was conducted in Rumford.
Woulfe said he has until April 15 to put a plan in place for training those who want to continue serving. The first training must include those for blood-borne pathogens, hazardous materials and fire extinguishers.
Fisher said those three generally take about a total of eight hours.
Woulfe said regulations governing fire departments were updated in 2003, and more regulations have been added the past few years.
He said volunteers without required training have attended fires for four or five years, with most of them going only a few times a year.
As for the 11 volunteers taken off the call list, Woulfe said most of them knew they couldn’t go in a burning structure.
Fisher said he believes many small fire departments are up-to-date on current training regulations. He declined to comment further on how the regulations would affect the state’s fire departments.
The bureau’s inspection also directed the Rumford Fire Department to build a protective shield around three LP gas containers outside the rear of the building and to pay closer attention to record-keeping on medical exams of the volunteers and other required tests.
Woulfe said the town Public Works Department is expected to construct that shield within the next few weeks.
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