HARPSWELL

The town of Harpswell has its first paid firefighters.

Selectmen approved the hiring of four people to serve in that capacity last week, part of the town’s ongoing efforts to create a professional service to supplement its three volunteer fire departments.

“It’s been a longer process than expected,” said Fire Administrator and Emergency Management Agent Art Howe, “but I think it’s gonna give us a very solid group of individuals that are gonna work very well together and already have a sense of the culture — both the safety culture and the risk reduction efforts that we’re intending to make.”

Howe was hired in July of last year to oversee the professionalization of the town’s firefighting efforts and address a lack of available firefighters during the daytime.

The part-time firefighters should provide coverage equal to two fulltime positions.

Howe expects to increase the number to eight or 10 part-time firefighters in the coming months. Currently, he has three pending candidates, who could be approved as early as this week.

The four approved candidates are Brian Burgess, Bill Cusick, Sean Hall and Meriel Longley. All four candidates have completed enhanced background tests and medical fitness evaluations. Selectmen authorized their hiring on Howe’s recommendation Thursday.

Howe said the next step is to have the group fitted for firefighter gear.

“That’s quite a lengthy process,” Howe told the selectmen.

He estimated it will take about eight to 10 weeks to get that gear. In the meantime, the volunteer departments have some surplus gear that can be used by the new firefighters in the interim period.

Although the Orr’s and Bailey Island Department station is still under renovation, Howe and the new firefighters plan to work out of there until a central fire station building can be built.

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