By Ed Pierce
Communication is key to establishing a human connection and one that is essential to personal and career success as a firefighter. It’s also the cornerstone of what Andrew Bilodeau is trying to accomplish as a Live-In student with the Windham Fire/Rescue Department.
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| Student Andrew Bilodeau is serving with the Windham Fire/Rescue Department while training to become a professional firefighter/ emergency medical Technician as part of Southern Maine Community College's Live-In Fire Academy Program. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
It’s not as easy as it looks though. Bilodeau must maintain a minimum of a “C” average in at least half of his classes at SMCC while working long hours at the fire station.
“I have been with Windham for about a year,” Bilodeau said. “The best thing about what I do is getting to help people on what could be their worst day.”
He says that he’s found the most challenging aspect of his job is trying to balance schoolwork and responding to calls for assistance.
“I think the biggest thing that people don’t realize is that we take this job really seriously, whether it be with a comfort ride into the hospital or consoling someone after a loved one just passed,” he said.
The training that Bilodeau is receiving is invaluable.
The Live-in Fire Academy is an intensive training course focusing on the basic firefighting and Emergency Medical Service skills required for local first responders. Completion of the academy qualifies live-in students such as Bilodeau to serve as firefighters in their assigned communities. Opportunities are provided to live-in students to complete training for state and national Firefighter I & II certification, EMT-Basic licensure and other credentials during the student’s live-in service time.
To participate as a Live-In student in the program, Bilodeau met all medical regulations for structural firefighting and hazardous materials response and was willing to accept the responsibility of serving local citizens.
Bilodeau says that his most memorable moment while working for Windham Fire/Rescue so far was responding to the first-ever structure fire of his career last September.
Originally from Cumberland, Bilodeau graduated from Greely High School and Westbrook Regional Vocational Center in Westbrook studying Heavy Equipment Operations.
“Since graduating from high school a year ago, I have obtained my Firefighter 1 certification and I’m working toward Firefighter 2 certification,” he said. “That allows me to be able to go into a fire and be able to do more at the fire scene.”
He’s also been able to obtain his Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B) certification.
“That has to be one of the most interesting courses I’ve taken by far,” Bilodeau said. “Its 60 hours of classroom time and a lot more hands-on time.”
According to Bilodeau, one thing that the public may not know about serving as a firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician is the physicality required to perform the job.
“People don’t realize how demanding the job is,” he said. “Trying to lift people, and rescue people is demanding on the body and working out is really important.”
Along with his duties as a Live-In student with Windham Fire/Rescue, Bilodeau also is a member of the call company for the Town of Cumberland as needed for certain emergency situations.
His family has been supportive of his efforts to become a professional firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician when he graduates from the program.
“They are really happy for me,” Bilodeau said. “They think that Windham compared to Cumberland is going to be a great learning experience.”
Of everything he’s learned as part of the Live-In Fire Academy Program, one thing stands out above the rest.
“Communication is key,” Bilodeau said. “That goes for outside the fire service, but communication while on the grounds of a fire and letting people know what you are doing and to asking where the shift captain would like me to be positioned, it all comes down to effective communication.” <
The training that Bilodeau is receiving is invaluable.
The Live-in Fire Academy is an intensive training course focusing on the basic firefighting and Emergency Medical Service skills required for local first responders. Completion of the academy qualifies live-in students such as Bilodeau to serve as firefighters in their assigned communities. Opportunities are provided to live-in students to complete training for state and national Firefighter I & II certification, EMT-Basic licensure and other credentials during the student’s live-in service time.
To participate as a Live-In student in the program, Bilodeau met all medical regulations for structural firefighting and hazardous materials response and was willing to accept the responsibility of serving local citizens.
Bilodeau says that his most memorable moment while working for Windham Fire/Rescue so far was responding to the first-ever structure fire of his career last September.
Originally from Cumberland, Bilodeau graduated from Greely High School and Westbrook Regional Vocational Center in Westbrook studying Heavy Equipment Operations.
“Since graduating from high school a year ago, I have obtained my Firefighter 1 certification and I’m working toward Firefighter 2 certification,” he said. “That allows me to be able to go into a fire and be able to do more at the fire scene.”
He’s also been able to obtain his Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B) certification.
“That has to be one of the most interesting courses I’ve taken by far,” Bilodeau said. “Its 60 hours of classroom time and a lot more hands-on time.”
According to Bilodeau, one thing that the public may not know about serving as a firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician is the physicality required to perform the job.
“People don’t realize how demanding the job is,” he said. “Trying to lift people, and rescue people is demanding on the body and working out is really important.”
Along with his duties as a Live-In student with Windham Fire/Rescue, Bilodeau also is a member of the call company for the Town of Cumberland as needed for certain emergency situations.
His family has been supportive of his efforts to become a professional firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician when he graduates from the program.
“They are really happy for me,” Bilodeau said. “They think that Windham compared to Cumberland is going to be a great learning experience.”
Of everything he’s learned as part of the Live-In Fire Academy Program, one thing stands out above the rest.
“Communication is key,” Bilodeau said. “That goes for outside the fire service, but communication while on the grounds of a fire and letting people know what you are doing and to asking where the shift captain would like me to be positioned, it all comes down to effective communication.” <
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