By Molly Lovell
Staff Writer

Thousands of firefighters are expected to descend on Kennebunk this weekend for the Maine State Fire Convention.
District Fire Chief Dana Ingham said Friday, Sept. 11, Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13 will be filled with memorials, a vendor’s exposition and events for the entire community.
According to Ingham, preparation for the event was three years in the making and the department expects anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 people to attend.
A memorial Friday will pay tribute to those lost in the attack on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the 343 emergency service personnel who died in Maine this year. Ingham said Summer Street will be closed for the event that will take place at Washington Park next to the police department. Parking is available at St. Martha’s Church on Route 1.
A vendor’s expo will take place all weekend at Middle School of the Kennebunks, where people can shop for fire-related gear along with T-shirts, calendars and other items.
“It’s endless. It will be interesting for everybody,” Ingham said of the events.
Ingham said the event will benefit the community by boosting the local economy and raising money for a scholarship fund sponsored by the town’s four fire and rescue companies.
Ingham said  hotels from Kennebunk to Biddeford and Sanford are booked for the event and other businesses are also hoping to prosper from the convention.
David Cluff, owner of Duffy’s Tavern, and a former member of the Kennebunk Fire Department, said hosting the event is a “great honor” for the department. He also said the convention will most likely draw business to the downtown and encourage people to visit again.
“An event like this does help bring people in to a community they may not have come to before,” he said.
Ingham said it costs about $20,000 to host the convention, with proceeds from benefit breakfasts and dinners going to a scholarship fund that supports high school students who want to pursue a career in firefighting.
“We’re not going to get rich off this,” said Ingham said. “The cost for the parade is $5,000 to $6,000 alone.”
In years past the parade has lasted two to three hours, but Ingham said it will probably be shorter so participating departments can save fuel. Trucks from as far away as Canada and Connecticut will be in the parade, along with marching units, color guard teams, auxiliary groups and floats.
Ingham said each year Maine towns bid to host the convention, which will take place in Presque Isle next year.
 “It’s [the annual event] a vacation for us. A fun weekend. This weekend won’t be a lot of fun for us, it’ll be work, but it’ll be fun for them,” he said.
Ingham encourages the entire community to join in events and take part in the convention, which is seeped in tradition.
“The brotherhood, the camaraderie that we have amongst each other does not just remain in our towns. It goes throughout the entire country,” he said.

Molly Lovell can be contacted at 282-4337 ext. 223 or news@kennebunkpost.com.