FARMINGTON — A local firefighter was named Maine Fire Instructor of the Year during an instructor conference in Brunswick on Sunday.

Lt. Tim D. Hardy was chosen from nominees across the state. It’s a prestigious award, Stephan Bunker, chairman of the Farmington Board of Selectmen said as he acknowledged Hardy during Tuesday’s meeting.

The Maine Fire Service Institute, for which Hardy works part time, sends instructors to train firefighters, Terry Bell, Farmington fire chief, said Wednesday.

Fire chiefs around the state request courses and contact the state to ask for instructors. The state assigns someone versed in the training they want, Bell said.

Hardy has developed Firefighter I and II academies for the local department. He’s also traveled to Caribou, Millinocket and other towns to provide training.

“He’s worked hard. He’s well liked and looked up to,” Bell said.

The award was established and dedicated to the memory of Deputy Chief Marc Bellefeuille, an instructor of fire training and education, Bunker said. Bellefeuille retired last year and passed away earlier this year.

“The Deputy Chief Marc Bellefeuille Instructor of the Year award is presented to a fire service instructor whose acts and deeds serve as an example to the profession, their department and peers alike,” according to a release from Bill Guindon, director of the Maine Fire Institute, who presented the award to Hardy. “The instructor of the year demonstrates an ongoing commitment to serving Maine’s fire service by teaching and encouraging others to progress themselves and/or their organization,” he said.

Hardy was chosen for the award for “demonstrating outstanding commitment and extraordinary accomplishments in fire service training,” Guindon said.

“Lt. Hardy was nominated by his peers along with other fire service instructors” earlier this year, he said.

The award began last year and Hardy is the second recipient, Bell said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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