FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN MAINE

Maine is home to 338 fire departments and approximately 2,300 firefighters working in the state. With this said, there is high demand for skilled and qualified fire service professionals here! Firefighters can choose to serve at the federal, state, or local level, protecting the residents of Maine. Some firefighters in the state even train to become EMTs and paramedics to respond to critical medical conditions in accidents or emergencies.

Firefighters with more education and experience may take on higher-level roles like fire inspectors and investigators. These are responsible for making sure that building codes are in place and determining the causes of fires.

Maine has a relatively low cost of living, which affects the pay scale for firefighters. Firefighters with experience and higher education have much better chances of getting stronger career opportunities. Below is a chart summarizing the average annual salaries for firefighters, fire inspectors and investigators, and forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists in the state.

FIRE SCIENCE EDUCATION IN MAINE

Aspiring firefighters in Maine can enter the fire service profession as a wildland firefighter, EMT, or hazardous materials manager, to name a few. The state is home to many colleges that offer fire science education at the certificate, associate, and bachelor’s degree levels. EMS training and licensing exams are offered by the Department of Public Safety in Maine.

High school graduates looking to start a career in firefighting may consider earning an associate degree from a community college that offers education in fire science. One college worth considering in Maine is Southern Maine Community College. Offering both certificate and associate degree options, the college combines classes covering the fundamentals of fire science with hands-on projects for students to learn the book-material while applying what they learn in a laboratory setting.

Current firefighters looking to earn a promotion or take on supervisory or managerial roles in the fire department may consider going back to school and earning a bachelor’s degree in Maine.

MAINE’S FIRE SCIENCE COLLEGES

Students can earn a fire science education at the certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree level in Maine. See our list below for the college options in the state.

FIRE SCIENCE: DISTANCE LEARNING

Students living far away from Maine’s colleges offering a fire science education can consider earning their degrees online. Online classes offer a flexible and convenient way for people to earn their degrees on their own time, while juggling other obligations. Distance learning is a viable option for those looking to take more generalized classes for academic fire science classes, such as history of fire science, fire chemistry, and basics of hazardous materials handling, to name a few.

Because fire science is a hands-on field that does require some face-to-face instruction, students may be required to meet occasionally on-campus to complete projects or tasks in-person.

To be a successful online-learning student, one must have reliable Internet connection, a drive to succeed, and great time management skills.