MEXICO — Capt. Allen Chartier has been named has been named the 2018 George Downs Memorial Firefighter of the Year, presented by the Mexico Fire Department.

Fire Chief Richard Jones, right, presents Capt. Allen Chartier with the 2018 George Downs Memorial Firefighter of the Year award at thy Mexico Fire Department’s annual meeting Feb. 5. (Rumford Falls Times photo by Bruce Farrin)

At the department’s annual meeting Feb. 5, Chief Richard Jones, who made the presentation, said the award recognizes a member of the department whose contributions exceed typical duties.
The recipient is chosen and voted on by the membership.

Chartier began as a junior firefighter, then became a member of Mexico Fire Department in March 2001. He was promoted to lieutenant in May 2009 and captain in February 2012. He has now won George Downs Memorial Firefighter of the Year award three times.

The award was started in 1991 by Chief Gary Wentzell, in memory of his father-in-law, a longtime member of the Mexico Fire Department.

Also recognized: junior firefighters Kenny Hall, Cody Moretto, Jacob Cunningham, Noah Stickney and Autumn Freeman, who go to Region 9 and are in the fire science program.

“When it comes to training,” Jones said, “they train right alongside us.”
When junior fighters begin, they must meet requirements set by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are restricted in what they can do at a structure fire, woods fire and other circumstances.

“We do not let them go to vehicle accidents and they cannot direct traffic,” Jones said. “At this time, they are more support personal then firefighters until they turn 18.”

Jones said the hope is the young firefighters will remain with the Mexico Fire Department once they graduate.

Some of the Mexico junior firefighters, from left: Kenny Hall, Cody Moretto, adviser Tim Haas, Jacob Cunningham and Noah Stickney. (Rumford Falls Times photo by Bruce Farrin)