PARIS — Firefighter/Paramedic Corin Meehan, 42, of Sweden, grew up in Tamworth, N.H. He studied fire science and para medicine at New Hampshire Tech, University of Southern Maine, Kennebec Valley Tech and Southern Maine Community College.

“I always had an interest in firefighting,” he says. “My family’s best friend was a firefighter and when I was in high school he recruited me to the Explorers program in Durham, N.H.”

During his 25 years as a firefighter, he has served the Madbury Fire Department, Newmarket Fire Department, Montgomery County Fire Rescue in Maryland, Rockland Fire Department and Augusta Fire Department.

In western Main,e he has served with Raymond Fire Department, was deputy chief of Bridgton Fire Department until recently, Sebago Fire Department, is currently chief of the Sweden Fire Department and works part-time for Paris Fire Department.

In addition to the requisite Firefighter 1 and 2, he is trained/certified in/as a hazmat tech, fire instructor 1 and 2, fire inspector, wild land firefighter, confined spaces, RIT, emergency vehicle operator instructor, pump ops and as an engineer.

He says “the best experience any firefighter can have is being able to create a positive outcome or at least minimize a negative outcome.” His best experiences, he says, have happened more than once.

His worst experiences are any time someone dies and he says that has happened more than once as well. He recalls a 10-year-old who was hit by a full-size pick-up truck while riding a bike.

“It was very traumatic … but he didn’t die,” Meehan says. He has also had to treat a friend who did die.

His professional goal is to “survive my career with my body relatively intact.” Firefighting is hard on bodies, he explains.

“I would like to retire when I choose rather than because of an injury,” he adds.

He and his partner, Cindy, are parents to Bella, 10, a cat, and rescues Bear, 8, and Tucker, 9, both English bulldogs.

They used to have three horses and chickens and will get some dairy goats soon. “I’m going to make cheese.” They also have honey bees.

Meehan enjoys gardening, reading, cooking and outdoor activities including swimming, hiking and snowshoeing, as well as logging in the woods.

He likes to refurbish antique tools and use them. He plans to start a side business with his farm and hopes to sell at a farmers’ market eventually.

He used to race bicycles and had a dark room and did photography, he says.

He and Cindy enjoy traveling, gardening and working on their house together. “Oh, and playing cribbage … she wins!”

His life goal is to become more self-sufficient and be able to better balance career and home life.

[email protected]