Fire Departements in the Portland area (South Portland, Scarborough: living, moving, relocating to)

[Audry524]

We're looking into relocating to the Portland area. The fire department is a big part of our lives right now and we want to relocate to a town that has a volunteer department.

Can someone clarify whether one, if not all of the following departments are paid or volunteer departments.

Thanks in advance!

Gorham
Standish
Windham
Westbrook
Gray
Yarmouth
Cumberland
Falmouth
Scarborough
Cape Elizabeth
Freeport
South Portland

[tkx7]

I think all of those have volunteers. Usually there are a few full time fire fighters but the rest are volunteers. South Portland, Westbrook and Scarborough have a larger full time force. You definitly cant just volunteer and make a living though.

[Elcarim]

My DH is a fire-fighter and EMT here in the Houston area. He was laughing reading a news article recently about the new Ambulance in one of the towns mid-coast that has already made 10 runs in the last 90 days. Laughing, because he makes about 10 runs a day!

I doubt that you'll make a sustainable living as a volunteer there. There are, however, quite a large number of paid fire-fighters throughout the state if you are certified. He's been looking extensively into that and is encouraged about the job prospects. He found a list of all the departments online and has just been checking with each of the ones within driving distance of Belfast (where we are moving) to see who pays and who doesn't and what the turnover is like.

He has the additional advantage of being an EMT at a level that will allow him to work in a hospital if he can't get on an ambulance or fire-truck right away.

Good luck in your search!

[AlisonL]

Of the towns you listed, Gray and Standish probably have more volunteers than the others. Do a google for Maine State FireFighters Assoc. and I am sure you can find what you are looking for there. We were involved heavily in the fire dept. years ago.
Good luck in your search.

[Audry524]

Thank you both for responding!

Perhaps I should have been a little clearer. We're not looking to the fire department for our employment. My husband is a PA (physicians assistant) and would be working in a hospital. The fire department for us would be strictly a volunteer situation so we would like a town that's not paid where we can volunteer. My husband currently has fire fighting and EMT (was a paramedic before becomming a PA) certification and I have EMT certification. It's a way of life for us where we are now and we're looking to continue that somewhere else.

[Elcarim]

From what we've learned, the medical fields are wide open. You can pretty much write your own ticket. So you should be good to go. I've teased my hubby about ending up in a hospital. He'll have to find something else to get his adrenaline fix! He's been running HOT for a long time now, and I can't see him toodling around a hospital ward for very long!!

[Audry524]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

From what we've learned, the medical fields are wide open. You can pretty much write your own ticket. So you should be good to go. I've teased my hubby about ending up in a hospital. He'll have to find something else to get his adrenaline fix! He's been running HOT for a long time now, and I can't see him toodling around a hospital ward for very long!!

My husband is the same way. He works in a very busy ER around here and I can't see him doing anything else.

Thanks again for responding!