A 10 year fire service veteran Jonathan ‘JP” Adams was awarded the Maine Fire Instructor of the Year on Saturday October 22, 2011 in Augusta. The award was presented by the Director of Maine Fire Service Institute, Bill Guindon, during the Maine Fire Service Institute’s Fall Instructor Workshop held this past weekend in Augusta

The award has been established and dedicated to the memory of Deputy Chief Marc Bellefeuille who was widely respected as an instructor for fire training and education. He was Coordinator for the Maine State Weekend at the National Fire Academy. He dedicated 38 years to the fire service before retiring in April of 2011. Deputy Chief Bellefeuille passed away earlier this year. The “Deputy Chief Marc Bellefeuille” Instructor of the Year Award is presented to a fire service instructor whose acts and deeds serve as an example to the profession, their department and peers alike. The Instructor of the Year demonstrates an ongoing commitment to serving Maine’s fire service by teaching and encouraging others to progress themselves and/or their organization in pursuit of excellence.

Firefighter Adams who also serves as a volunteer on the Lisbon Fire Department and per diem member of the Topsham Fire Department was chosen for the Instructor of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding commitment and extraordinary accomplishments in fire service training. Firefighter Adams displayed a deep commitment to furthering the cause of the fire service through training. Firefighter Adams was nominated by his peers along with other fire service instructors during the statewide nomination period held in August of this year.

The Maine Fire Service Institute is a department of Southern Maine Community College with statewide responsibility for firefighter training and the legislative authority to issue certification.

Bill Guindon, Director Maine Fire Service Institute bguindon@smccme.edu 207-741-5937 207-809-9062