The Maine Fire Service Institute is the State Fire Training Agency responsible for providing National Fire Academy training programs to Maine’s Emergency First Responders under both Federal and State of Maine Law. Title 20-A, §9003: State agents for federal programs (mainelegislature.org)
Each year, Maine is allowed to choose four (4) programs that are typically delivered in March and September. These programs are different because they are instructed by out-of-state National Fire Academy Instructors that come to Maine to deliver programs. Many of these programs are financially supported by the National Fire Academy Fire Training Grant. MFSI also applies each year for a six-day NFA in-state delivery in FEMA Region #1.
Link to NFA Website
The following are a list of courses that may be requested and delivered in your area.
- Incident Safety Officers
- Health & Safety Program Manager
- Preparations for Initial Company Operations
- Preparation for Initial Company Operations
- Decision Making for Initial Company Operations
- Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations
- Best Practices in Community Risk Reduction
- Leadership in supervision series:
- Professional Growth
- Perspectives in Thinking
- Frameworks to Success
We encourage any State of Maine fire service member to attend the National Fire Academy. As a Maine fire service professional, you are allowed one free on-campus program per year. The only cost is the meal ticket. In addition, the National Fire Academy offers many online programs for your convenience free-of-charge.
Maine State Weekend @ NFA in Emmittsburg, MD
The 2025 Weekend has been cancelled (flyer). Dates and application for 2026 will be announced later in 2025. To be alerted, email the Maine State Weekend Coordinator, Paul Froman.
Maine State Weekend Coordinator: Paul Froman
Paul Froman is a career firefighter/paramedic currently ongoing twelve years of service with the City of Biddeford. He has over seventeen years of fire service experience. Paul has served in various roles in both career and volunteer departments. Additionally, Paul teaches courses at Southern Maine Community College as an adjunct instructor in the EMS and Fire Science programs. Paul is a strong advocate for quality training and education programs in the state.
The late Deputy Fire Chief Marc Bellefeuille, a past National Fire Academy (NFA) Maine weekend coordinator, encouraged Paul to attend the Maine State weekend as a probationary firefighter. Paul continued to participate in state weekends and worked with the immediate past coordinator Jason Wheeler on weekend logistics and the memorial service traditionally held during the weekend at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial located on the NFA grounds.
Maine has a strong connection and tradition with the NFA, and the Maine State weekend has been taking place for over 30 years. Paul is looking forward to helping Maine firefighters connect with the NFA’s fantastic training opportunities. Paul also wishes to let individuals know that the NFA has something for everyone, from the rookie to the 40-year veteran. If you have any questions regarding which class might be best for you, please reach out to him. He will be happy to have a conversation with you. Email Paul Froman
*CANCELED* 2025 Women’s Weekend at the NFA (see local delivery)
In partnership with Women in Fire, the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) has vacancies for the following courses, which will be held at the NETC Campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, from March 15 – 16, 2025.
Registration for the following courses is OPEN until February 9th:
- W0146 – Supervising Emergency Medical Services (SEMS)
- W0256 – Safety for Hazardous Materials Incidents
- W0296 – Command and Control for Company-Level Operations
- W0321 – Incident Command for Highrise Operations
- W0648 – Leadership in Supervision: Frameworks to Success
- W0756 – Fire Investigation: Fire as a Weapon
- W0905 – Followership to Leadership
- W0953 – Industrial Emergencies for Municipal-Based Responders