Ellsworth Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 3402

03/28/2026

After 5 hours at a motel fire, we’re cleaning tools and packs and Chief walks in with enough breakfast for everyone! 😍

03/25/2026

When minutes matter, the number of boots on the ground is the difference between a "close call" and a saved life. We’re talking about Effective Response Force, and here is why backfilling vacancies and maintaining a 5-person minimum crew is non-negotiable:

⏱️ The Rule of Five

To safely and effectively operate, a single engine and ambulance team needs a minimum of 5 firefighters. Here’s the breakdown of why that number is the "magic number" for your safety:
• 2 Inside: Two firefighters enter the "IDLH" (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) zone to fight the fire or perform a rescue.
• 2 Outside: Per federal OSHA safety standards (Two-In/Two-Out), two firefighters must remain outside, ready to rescue the team inside if something goes wrong.
• 1 Pump/Apparatus Operator: One dedicated professional to ensure constant water pressure and manage the complex equipment that keeps the team alive.

🚑 More Than Just Fire

Three out of every four emergencies we respond to is a medical incident. With the need for us to transport the patient increasing significantly, these calls can take an hour. Two personnel respond to these calls (unless it is a CPR incident), leaving 3 to respond to the inevitable fire call. That small of a number prohibits us from entering an IDLH environment where the problem is best mitigated, usually.

⚠️ The Risk of Vacancies

When we don't backfill a vacancy, we aren't just "short-staffed"—we are compromised.
• Slower Response: Smaller crews have to wait for second units to arrive before they can safely enter a burning building.
• Increased Burnout: Overworked crews lead to fatigue, and in our line of work, fatigue leads to mistakes.
• Community Risk: A vacant seat on a fire truck is a gap in your community's safety net.

Where Does Overtime Come From:

In order to have five personnel working 24/7/365 the Ellsworth Fire Department uses four shifts of five people on a rotating schedule. Under perfect conditions the five people who are assigned to a shift or “crew” all come to work. However if someone is absent because they are sick, injured, on vacation, or serving in the military (25% of the EFD is in the Army or Air National Guard) their shift must be covered with overtime. At current staffing levels there are no “extra” employees to cover open shifts without overtime.
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Bottom Line: Emergency services are an investment in the worst day of your life. We owe it to our residents to arrive with the full strength needed to handle the job.

01/29/2026

Join us at Helen’s in support of our friend!

Please join us Monday night!! Heidi was such a bright light in our community, let’s show this family our full community support.

PLEASE SHARE

12/30/2025

Hermon FD captain says staffing matters after quick response to building fire. Story link: https://tinyurl.com/47hn5mvh

11/22/2025

Swing by Shaw’s on High Street, buy a pie and help us makes Christmas betterfor some people this year.

10/16/2025

Want a chance to bid on this co****le set made by us? You’d better be at the Ella Lewis School at 15 Village Road in Steuben this Saturday between 9am and 2pm!

This and many other items will be up for bid at the Bobby Dorr Memorial Scholarship silent auction fundraiser!

10/15/2025

Glenn Moshier of Mosquito Harbor Brewing Company presented VP Kenny LeMoine with a check that will allow for yet another scholarship award from the Bobby Dorr Memorial Scholarship!

Each year the Bobby Dorr Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 to a student studying fire science or a similar field. A scholarship may also be awarded to a child of a firefighter.

The Sweet Spot challenged other businesses to join them and Mosquito Harbor Brewing Company stepped up to the plate!

Who’s next?

10/11/2025

Bobby loved when people gathered for a good time. He’d start a game and then sit back and watch as others jumped in, took turns, and had fun.

We’ve been working a little here and a little there on something that will be available for bid on Saturday October 18th. From 9am to 2pm at the Ella Lewis School in Steuben, there will be a silent auction and bake sale to help support the Bobby Dorr Memorial Scholarship.

This fund awards one $1,000 scholarship to a child of a firefighter or a student going into the fire/EMS service.

If you are unable to attend but still want to help support this scholarship, we are taking monetary donations of any size. Checks can be written out to “Ellsworth Firefighters Community Fund” and mailed to:
Ellsworth Professional Firefighters, Local 3402
1 City Hall Plaza
Ellsworth, ME 04605

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The Sweet Spot made a donation enabling a second scholarship to be awarded this year and challenged other businesses to do the same. Who will step up and do the same?

10/03/2025

We, Local 3402, are seeking donations for the Bobby Dorr Memorial Scholarship. Bobby was our brother, Vice President, Captain, Deputy Chief, friend, and teacher. He was passionate about training and education.

Bobby lost his battle with cancer in May of 2021.

Every year a $1000 scholarship is awarded to a child of a firefighter or a student continuing their education in fire related services.

Donations can be dropped off at the Ellsworth Fire Department or mailed to:

Ellsworth Professional Firefighters Local 3402
1 City Hall Plaza
Ellsworth, ME 04605

Checks can be made out to Ellsworth Firefighters Community Fund. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

10/02/2025

Join us at the Ella Lewis School with the friends and family of our brother, Bobby Dorr. We’ll be raising money for the Memorial Scholarship in his honor. There will be lots of goodies to buy and bid on!! Don’t miss out!

08/01/2025

The hydrants, one at the Chapel Street intersection and the other at the Grant Street intersection, have since been labeled as “out of service."

07/31/2025

We’ve had some locals treated at the Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s a great place! Swing by Shaw’s and pick up some sweets and say hi to Bob Dorr. He’s there on his day off to raise money for them.