ALFRED, Maine – It is part of the job, but it is one that takes a toll, and  it can be a heavy one. If you are a first responder there are events you encounter you cannot unsee, unhear, or not smell. The first time you saw what is unimaginable to most people replays in your head. And given the nature of your life’s work, similar scenes repeat in real life with car crashes, medical emergencies, a deadly fire or a standoff with a bad outcome. At times it seems like it just does

First responders across more than two dozen York County municipal departments and within the county government are receiving an accounting of their health through diagnostic screenings. The screenings were made possible by a $311,000 award through the State Fire Marshal’s Office, an arm of the Maine Department of Public Safety, under the Public Safety and Wellness Reimbursement Fund.

“York County has a county-wide mutual aid agreement,” Clements said. “We all need to train together so we can operate together when a critical incident happens anywhere in the county. The training center will provide uniform training for all of us. This facility is exactly what we need in York County.”

Students completing the 240 hour firefighter 1 and 2 courses learned search and rescue techniques, firefighter health and safety, fire behavior, personal protective equipment, forcible entry, fire attack, ground ladder operations, ropes and knots, hose advancement, ventilation, use of tools and appliances and more.