To access the links, download/view the PDF. Links aren’t active in the FlipBook. [PDF]

Inside the Issue

• State & Federal Updates 
• Upcoming Events  
• National Fire Academy  
• About MFSI Programs

Letter from MFSI Director 

I hope this message finds you well, and that you’re enjoying the return of green leaves, open ground, and the unmistakable promise of a Maine summer. As we enter this season, and as our nation marks its 250th year, I find myself reflecting not only on where we are, but where we’ve come from. I think back to 1976, the Bicentennial, when I was just a kid, playing baseball in my hometown and riding atop fire engines in the Fourth of July parade. Those memories remind me that this profession has always been bigger than the job itself. It’s been about community, identity, and something deeply rooted in who we are.  

Reflection, while valuable, is not where our responsibility ends. It must inform us how to move forward. After 41 years in the fire service across Maine and northern New Hampshire, I can tell you with certainty: something is changing. You can see it on the training ground. You can feel it in the classroom. You can hear it in the conversations we’re having, and sometimes, the ones we’re not. The core of this profession, tradition, pride, and an unwavering commitment to one another and to those we serve, remains intact. But the world around that core has shifted. 

We are no longer defined solely by the fires we extinguish. We are EMS providers, technical rescuers, educators, leaders, and problem-solvers. We operate in a space that is more complex, more demanding, and more visible than ever before. Every action, every decision, every moment of leadership carries weight, often far beyond the scene itself. In this era, professionalism is not optional; it is expected, observed, and remembered. 

For many of us, especially those who came up in a different time, that change can feel unsettling. It can feel like the ground beneath long-held traditions is moving. But we need to be clear about something; this is not erosion. This is evolution. 

The next generation entering our ranks is not lacking in toughness or commitment. They are stepping forward in a world that has shaped them differently, but they are answering the same call we once did. Our role is not to measure them against the past, but to prepare them for the future. That means holding the line on what matters most:  

• Discipline 
• Pride in the Craft 
• Accountability 
• Sense of duty 

We also need to embrace what strengthens us:  

• Greater focus on mental health 
• Higher expectations in training and education 
• Demand for professionalism at every level 

These commitments are not threatening our culture; they are reinforcements that will carry them forward. Culture is not preserved by resisting change; it is preserved by leading through it. It is not written in policy manuals or dictated from any one office. It is built, call-by-call, shift by shift, decision by decision. It lives in what we tolerate, what we correct, what we teach, and what we model when no one is watching. Every one of us, regardless of rank or years of service, has a hand in shaping culture.  

This is a defining moment for the fire service in Maine. Not because we are at risk of losing who we are, but because we are being asked to decide who we will become. 

If we meet this moment with humility, with purpose, and with a willingness to lead, not backward, but forward, we will not lose our identity. We will strengthen it. We will build a fire service that honors its past, stands firm in its values, and is fully prepared for the challenges ahead. 

We owe that to those who came before us. We owe it to those who will come after us. And most importantly, we owe it to the people who trust us on their worst day. 

If we move forward together, as one fire service, with one shared commitment to excellence, there is no question that Maine’s future will be strong, resilient, and worthy of the traditions we carry. 

Stay safe. We need you all. Have a happy and safe 4th of July, and Happy Birthday, America. 

Sincerely,  

Jim Graves, MFSI