Captain Harold Smith, longtime Fire Science instructor at Sanford Regional Technical Center, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Captain Joel Barnes Community Service Award, recognizing his decades of service and commitment to training future firefighters across Maine.
The award, jointly presented by the Maine Mariners and the Berwick Firefighters Union, honors the legacy of Captain Joel Barnes, a Berwick firefighter who lost his life while saving fellow firefighter Mitch Manfredonia during a 2019 fire. This marks the sixth edition of the annual award.
"I feel like I'm just doing my job," said Smith, who was surprised and humbled by the recognition. "The whole thing's just a big honor."
Smith was selected from three finalists announced by the Maine Mariners. The award will be formally presented on March 8th during the Mariners' "First Responders Night" game against the Reading Royals.
"I was curious who nominated me," Smith said, later discovering he was nominated by a former student. "When I found out, it was amazing."
Smith has a personal connection to this legacy. "I met Joel just days before his passing when he started doing per diem work in Acton," Smith recalled. "He just seemed like a super nice guy. I remember thinking, 'I want to get to know that guy better.'"
During his 12 years at SRTC, Smith has built the Fire Science program from the ground up. His teaching philosophy centers on preparing the next generation.
"For at least the last decade, my focus has been training my replacement," Smith explained. "My job is to pass on the skills and things that I've learned to help them do good."
"Harold is a one of a kind natural teacher that students gravitate towards," SRTC Director Matt Petermann said. "He always comes in with a positive disposition and is motivated to get all his students successfully through his Firefighting program. We congratulate him for his service to his community."
Smith's impact is evident throughout the region's fire services. "The new game that I play now is when I go to mutual aid calls, I count how many former students are here fighting the fire," Smith said. During a recent fire in Acton, six of the twelve responding firefighters were graduates of his program.
The award ceremony has generated tremendous enthusiasm among Smith's supporters. Approximately 25-27 students are planning to attend, along with Smith's family members and colleagues from various fire departments.
"What means the most to me," Smith reflected, "is seeing how excited these students are to attend. I think I'm as honored by their enthusiasm as I am by the award itself."