SUMNER – Fire Chief Bob Stewart has every right to be proud of his volunteer fire department.

Five of his 15 volunteers have passed the state Firefighter 1 program after some 285 hours of training.

Starting in August 2002 and completing the program last month, the five men have dedicated their evenings and Sundays to training that enables them to do just about everything. Volunteers Steve McGinty, Doug Fournier, Duke Harrington, Joe Collingwood and Stewart attended classes and training in Turner and Auburn. They are now trained to go into buildings and do search and rescue.

They also are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, self-contained breathing apparatus, sprinkler system operation, handling ladders and ventilation for fires and fire behavior.

They are further certified as woodland firefighters. Having met the federal standards in this area they could be called to any area of the country.

The Firefighter 1 program was organized by the Frandford Firefighters Association, which includes Franklin, Androscoggin and Oxford counties. Instructors came from Maine State Fire Training Education.

Chief Stewart said, “This had to do with teamwork. It has done wonders for the morale of our group of volunteers and this was a great turnout considering the small size of our group. The state says that firefighters cannot do anything they are not trained to do and now Sumner has five that are certified to do almost everything. Sumner firefighters are now more useful to surrounding towns as well as to their own community.”

Stewart said he is looking ahead to training in the Firefighters 2 program.