Scholarship Opportunities

Peter L. Rines
MFSI Fire Instructor/Fire Officer Program Scholarship

Introduction

Peter L. Rines began a long career in the Maine Fire Service as a call fire fighter in the Town of Wiscasset Fire Department. In the early 1990’s he became the town’s first and only full time firefighter. Through the years, he served the community as Fire Captain, Director of the Wiscasset Ambulance Service and Interim Fire Chief.

After earning his associate degree in Fire Science Technology in 1998, Peter began a career in training of Maine’s fire fighters as a State Fire Instructor, a Training Program Manager and as Certification and Curriculum Manager with the Maine Fire Service Institute. Through Peter’s hard work and perseverance, certification programs were developed for Fire Fighters, Fire Instructors and Fire Officers and eventually Pro Board certification and national reciprocity of Maine’s training programs was achieved.

Peter was a true ‘Mainer’ through and through, and he cared very deeply for the Maine fire service. He will forever be remembered as a person that improved the lives of countless individual fire service members. Upon his death in September 2021, the Peter L. Rines MFSI Fire Instructor/Fire Officer Scholarship was established to continue his legacy of commitment to the training and education of Maine firefighters.

Scholarship Goal

The intent of the Peter L. Rines scholarship is to provide financial assistance to Maine fire/rescue department members to help facilitate their attendance at a Maine Fire Service Institute Fire Instructor Program or Fire Officer Program/Academy. Priority will be given to those applicants from resource deprived communities and fire departments facing financial barriers to attendance.

Application Criteria

Any member in good standing of a Maine Fire Department holding the necessary prerequisite certifications may apply for the program desired. The application shall include a cover letter briefly stating intent and financial need, personal goals in the fire service and anticipated community/fire service benefits. A completed application form with the Fire Chief’s endorsement is also required.

Click to access the Scholarship Application Form.

Selection Criteria

  • The Scholarship Selection Committee shall choose recipients based on the following criteria:
  • Applicant has met all application requirements
  • Applicant has demonstrated financial need
  • Chief has endorsed application and documented community/fire department financial need
  • Applicant has explained future benefit to their community and to the fire service in general within the State of Maine
  • Applicant has demonstrated a sustained high level of commitment to the fire & rescue service

Application Period

Upon request, and in conjunction with the MFSI program brochure for the academy, further information can be provided by the MFSI administration regarding:

  • The intent of the scholarship
  • Scholarship application process and deadline
  • Amount of funding available

Notification of Awards

At least two weeks prior to the application deadline for the program, applicants will be notified of scholarship awards. Funding will be credited directly to the recipient’s program fee upon obtaining Pro-Board Certification.

Submit Applications to:

Maine Fire Service Institute
ATTN: Peter L. Rines Scholarship
19 Sewall Street
Brunswick, ME 04011
Or via email to: jgraves@smccme.edu

(click here for PDF version)