LYMAN — With the help of live-in students and newly approved per-diem staff, the Goodwin’s Mills Fire Department is moving toward its goal to run more efficiently and provide better customer service.

The fire department serves both Dayton and Lyman, and in June, both towns approved funding for the department to add per-diem staffing.

The department has a full-time chief and three additional full-time staff.

June’s vote allowed Chief Roger Hooper to hire per diem staff, so that there will now be 24-hour staffing, with an emergency medical technician on duty at all times.

Hooper said there is a larger pool of on-call drivers than there is on-call EMTs. Last year, the department was not able to respond to 23 rescue calls, which meant mutual aid communities, instead of Goodwin’s Mills, were able to collect a total of $14,000 for those emergency call fees.

“It’s more than funding, it’s service to the community,” said Hooper, and having local emergency personnel to respond to a call as soon as possible.

“My goal is to not miss any calls,” he said. “I want calls answered quickly and professionally.”

Hooper implemented daily per-diem staffing on Aug. 1, using call staff to fill shifts. Full-time staff, excluding the chief, work 24-hour shifts, and per-diem staff work 12-hour ”“ 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ”“ shifts.

Overnight coverage, with one full-time staffer on board, is assisted by the three students from Southern Maine Community College, who live at the fire station for free in exchange for service to the department. Two are freshman, and the third is a second-year student who lived at the fire station last year, who is now a licensed EMT and qualified to drive a fire truck.

As part of the requirements, the students must each work 20 uniformed hours a week and 60 “ready alert” hours, where they are in the station and ready to go on a call.

“I think we can provide a more reliable and more consistent service,” said Hooper.

Hooper said the students aren’t required to be at the station during summer and school vacations, and though the set-up with the students and per-diem staff is working well, it’s not a permanent fix.

Live-in student Brandon Dagneau knew he wanted to participate in SMCC’s public safety student live-in program when he was a freshman in high school. Fellow live-in students James Gambino and Jacob Cole said they knew in eighth grade. All were involved in their local fire departments in high school.

“I had the live-in application filled out before my college application,” said Gambino.

Gambino said the program gives students “actual hands-on experience” in addition to information learned from textbooks.

Second-year student Jacob Cole, initially interested in the fire-fighting side of fire and rescue, said he discovered an interest in the medical side of things and is switching his focus to paramedicine.

The students said being in the program, they have to learn to balance their fire duties with their school duties.

“We could be up all night on a call until 4 a.m., and then go to class at 8:30,” said Cole.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].