Duane Maurice Bickford passed away at home at the age of 66 on the 15th of November, 2024. He was in service to the Fairfield Fire Department for 32 years, first by volunteer, later full term, and then becoming Fire Chief in 2000 before retiring in 2023. He was also a member of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association as well as serving a term as their President. His desire to learn and expand his knowledge in his field of work was extensive given the length of courses listed on his resume. Duane used this knowledge to train both new and old recruits at Kennebec Valley Community College. He was greatly involved with creating the fire training center, a project which took years in the making. When he retired, he was voted onto the town council for a brief period of time. Duane is survived by his wife, Lynn and daughter, Samantha and sister-in-law, Deborah Baker, his two sisters, Gail Laskey of Fairfield, Valerie Carron of Benton, and several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, Maurice and Virginia Bickford of Fairfield, brother Gene Bickford of Oakland, two sisters Sandra Constable of Skowhegan and Marsha Hale of Albion. A viewing will be held in the Williamson Center at Lawrence High School from 1:00pm to 3:00pm with the funeral service following at 3:00pm on Sunday November 24, 2024. "Grief never ends. But it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the prince of love." -Unknown