By Ed Pierce
No profession can be more satisfactory and yet humbling at the same time than being a firefighter and Raymond Fire and Rescue’s new Deputy Chief Lee O’Connor has rolled up his sleeves and gotten down to work at his new job.
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| Raymond Fire and Rescue's new Deputy Chief Lee O'Connor joined the department on Jan. 31 and has more than 34 years of experience in firefighting and providing emergency medical assistance. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
As Deputy Chief of the Raymond Fire and Rescue Department, O’Connor is tasked with staff management and developing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures and Standards Operating Guidelines for the fire department. He also reviews incident reports and emergency medical service reports, works on the fire department’s annual budget and formulates long range planning for the department’s future needs.
In addition, O’Connor handles the fire and rescue department’s payroll, assists and coordinates firefighter and EMS training programs, assists and responds to incidents and fires in Raymond and surrounding towns, and all of that is along with performing his duties as a firefighter and emergency medical technician.
The Raymond Fire and Rescue Department provides fire protection and emergency response services to the Raymond community. It is a challenging mission is to prevent the loss of life and property, and to respond to fires in the community and medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, rescue calls, and incidents involving hazardous materials within the town.
The job as Deputy Chief for the department is an important assignment, but it’s a position for which O’Connor is well prepared.
Prior to joining Raymond Fire and Rescue, O’Connor worked for 18 years for Poland Fire and Rescue, serving as a Department Captain, responsible for training and leading the town’s Emergency Medical Service as Coordinator. He also worked as a paramedic and a Technical Rescue Specialist for the department there.
He spent 13 years with the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Office, working in Corrections, Transport, and serving as a sheriff’s Search and Recovery Diver.
“The best thing about what I do is the job,” O’Connor said. “All of it, my career has been in Public Safety. I started when I was 17 years old, and I’m now passing 34 years of service.”
According to O’Connor, the most challenging aspect of his job knowing that no matter what he does, some outcomes are beyond his control and not always good.
The greatest misconception that some people may have about his work is that firefighters are human, he said.
“In the Fire and Rescue Service, we see some of the worst things on calls and need to deal with them and make sure we are ready for the next call, or make sure our peers are ready for it,” O’Connor said.
Originally from Ticonderoga, New York, O’Connor graduated from Ticonderoga High School and went on to attend North County Community College in Saranac Lake, New York and graduated with a associates degree in business administration.
He decided to apply for the Deputy Chief position in Raymond after learning about the vacancy last fall following a discussion with Raymond Fire and Rescue Chief Bruce Tupper.
“While at a fire he told me they were looking for a new Deputy Chief and I should apply,” O’Connor said.
His family is proud of his accomplishments and is excited about his new job with Raymond Fire and Rescue.
“They like having me home more and able to be at family events,” he said.
One thing O’Connor believes the public isn’t aware of regarding firefighting and rescue work is simple.
“We don’t have enough staff, or people applying to keep up with the demands of the job,” he said. “Call volume has increased over the last 10 years, while membership has decreased.”
After being a career firefighter for more than three decades, O’Connor says that he’s learned so many important lessons, but the biggest one he’s learned as a firefighter applies to all facets of life.
“It takes teamwork to be productive and to get the job done,” he said. <
He spent 13 years with the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Office, working in Corrections, Transport, and serving as a sheriff’s Search and Recovery Diver.
“The best thing about what I do is the job,” O’Connor said. “All of it, my career has been in Public Safety. I started when I was 17 years old, and I’m now passing 34 years of service.”
According to O’Connor, the most challenging aspect of his job knowing that no matter what he does, some outcomes are beyond his control and not always good.
The greatest misconception that some people may have about his work is that firefighters are human, he said.
“In the Fire and Rescue Service, we see some of the worst things on calls and need to deal with them and make sure we are ready for the next call, or make sure our peers are ready for it,” O’Connor said.
Originally from Ticonderoga, New York, O’Connor graduated from Ticonderoga High School and went on to attend North County Community College in Saranac Lake, New York and graduated with a associates degree in business administration.
He decided to apply for the Deputy Chief position in Raymond after learning about the vacancy last fall following a discussion with Raymond Fire and Rescue Chief Bruce Tupper.
“While at a fire he told me they were looking for a new Deputy Chief and I should apply,” O’Connor said.
His family is proud of his accomplishments and is excited about his new job with Raymond Fire and Rescue.
“They like having me home more and able to be at family events,” he said.
One thing O’Connor believes the public isn’t aware of regarding firefighting and rescue work is simple.
“We don’t have enough staff, or people applying to keep up with the demands of the job,” he said. “Call volume has increased over the last 10 years, while membership has decreased.”
After being a career firefighter for more than three decades, O’Connor says that he’s learned so many important lessons, but the biggest one he’s learned as a firefighter applies to all facets of life.
“It takes teamwork to be productive and to get the job done,” he said. <
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