The Lamoine Volunteer Fire Department responded to nearly the same number of calls for help during 2003 as it did the previous year, with 48 runs this year compared to 49 the year before. As has been the trend in the last few years, the calls have been increasingly for rescue and accident situations, with fewer actual fires to deal with. A detailed list of each call can be found on the town’s website (www.lamoine-me.gov).
| Type of Call |
Lamoine |
Ellsworth |
Trenton |
Sullivan |
Hancock |
Franklin |
| Chimney Fires |
5 |
|
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| Stand by Station |
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
||
| Medical Assist |
2 |
|||||
| Motor Vehicle Accidents |
15 |
|||||
| Structure Fires |
|
3 |
3 |
1 |
||
| Smoke/Gas/Lightning |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Water Rescue |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
| Spills |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| False Alarms |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Trees/Wires Down |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Flooding |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Wildfires |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
| Total Calls |
35 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Lamoine did not request mutual aid from any of our surrounding departments in 2003. The most serious call in Lamoine was an accident September 18th on Buttermilk Road in which 5 people were badly injured.
We were happy to provide mutual aid services on 15 occasions to our neighboring communities, including a large wildfire in Sullivan, two major structure fires in Ellsworth, and a water rescue request in Franklin.
On the town meeting warrant this year is a request to purchase a new rescue/pumper truck. This would replace the 1975 pumper we purchased a few years ago with a modern vehicle that can more effectively respond to the rescue calls, accidents, and fire needs we have today. The members of the fire department have pledged $50,000 of the funds we’ve raised in the past few years toward purchase of this vehicle.
We took delivery of a Holmatro rescue tool in 2003 and have placed that into service on several vehicle accidents. This tool is very effective at safely removing wreckage to free accident victims. We thank Barry Norris of Pro Auto for donating several vehicles to practice with.
During 2003 the Lamoine Volunteer Fire Department organization received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service, meaning donations directly to the fire department are tax deductible. Our membership remains strong at about 28, and we always welcome new members who wish to join the organization.
George “Skip” Smith
Fire Chief