06/03/2026
NEWEST GRADUATES OF AFD ROOKIE SCHOOL!
Auburn Fire Department Rookie School consists of eight intense weeks of classroom and hands-on training taught by AFD instructors. Rookie School is both mentally and physically demanding - by design - to prepare candidates for the start of their careers as firefighters/EMTs in our community.
The training begins with an introduction to the City of Auburn and how the municipal system works, including live fire training and on-the-job training. The following exceptional candidates have successfully completed all 8 weeks and are now assigned to the Response Division of the department. Over the next year, while operating as probationary firefighters, they will further their training and skills while working on the job.
FF/EMT Preston Crowell - Originally from Brewer, Preston joins us with 4 years prior experience. Before coming to Auburn, he worked as a full-time firefighter with Federal Fire San Diego. He has both FFI & II certifications, as well as certifications in wildland firefighting. He currently lives in Wells with his wife and two children. He is assigned to A shift as a float firefighter.
FF/EMT John Dailey - John is from central Illinois, where he graduated from high school and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. He built a 25-year career as a scientific software engineer with a specialty in discovery and tracking of asteroids and comets before transitioning to the fire service. FF Dailey also volunteered as a Search and Rescue Mountaineer/EMT and Training Officer in California for a decade before moving to Maine and joining the Sumner Volunteer Fire Department, where he serves as secretary in addition to firefighter. FF Dailey lives with his wife in Sumner and is assigned to C shift as a float firefighter.
FF/EMT Landen Arsenault - Landen is from the town of Leeds. He graduated from Leavitt Area High School. Shortly after high school he joined the Livermore Falls Fire Department where he obtained his Firefighter I & II, Hazmat Ops and Basic EMT. Landen currently resides in Leeds with his girlfriend and their pet dog and cat. Landen is assigned to B Shift as a float. He also works as a per-diem firefighter for the town of Turner and per-diem EMT-B in the town of Buckfield.
FF/EMT Michael McKeon - Originally from New Hampton, NY, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard after graduating from high school, where he performed search and rescue in Rockland, ME for 3 years followed by 3 years of pollution investigation and response in East Providence, RI. Michael now lives in Lisbon with his wife. He is a Firefighter/EMT in a float position on our D shift.
FF/EMT Matt Grondin - Matt grew up in Greene and currently resides in Auburn with his wife and two sons. He recently completed training and serves as a Firefighter/EMT with the AFD. He is excited to begin serving the Auburn community and continuing his career in emergency services. In his free time during the summer, Matt enjoys playing disc golf and driving around in his late father’s old Land Cruiser. Grondin is assigned to Rescue 3 on A shift.
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming them all!
