Saco Fire Chief recognized as chief of the year by Maine Fire Chiefs' Association

SACO — Saco Fire Chief John Duross was recently named 2020 Fire Chief of the Year by the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association.

Duross began his career as a junior firefighter, serving three years in this position before graduating from Thornton Academy, according to a written statement from the City of Saco. A few months after graduating high school, he became a career firefighter, and quickly rose the ranks to captain. He later became a Deputy Chief and in 2010 was appointed Chief. Duross has served on various boards, committees and fire service organizations and has taken part in local, regional and national efforts to improve the fire service at every level, according to city officials.

The fire chief was recognized in 2011 with a public sector award from a local rotary club, earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the York County Fire Chiefs' Association in 2019, and in 2020 celebrated 40 years of service to the Saco community, according to the written statement.

In 2019 Duross was appointed the President of the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association, which typically has a one-year term. The pandemic brought the need for him to extend his service, which ended in March 2021, making him the longest-serving president of that organization, according to the written statement.

Duross was honored last week at a City Council meeting.

“We can not thank you enough for your dedication, your commitment and all your hard work for the city of Saco,” said Mayor William Doyle.

City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath said the award was “well deserved” and “well earned.”

“Around the state, Chief Duross is known as someone who is knowledgeable and who has been clearly, clearly established of having a distinguished career,” said Kaenrath.

He said Saco was lucky to have Duross as a fire chief and the award was “a great honor not only to the chief but to the city as well.”

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.