Town adding fifth full-time firefighter MOUNT DESERT — Fire Chief Mike Bender is looking to hire an additional full-time, paid firefighter, bringing the total number, including himself, to five. The fire department’s budget for the coming fiscal year, which voters approved at Town Meeting last Tuesday, includes funding for the new position. Following the Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen authorized Bender to begin the recruitment process. “This is the new position that was discussed and included in our 10-Year Strategic Plan,” he said in a memo to Town Manager Durlin Lunt. “Originally, I had planned to create one position this year and two more next year to bring us up to a staffing level that would enable us to begin 24 hour/7 days a week fire department coverage.”