The eastern islands of the Maine coast are some of the smallest and most remote towns in the state of Maine. The residents of these islands are used to making do and scrambling for new ways of accomplishing tasks. This resourcefulness is reflected in the region’s fire departments, which have developed new and innovative ways of keeping their communities safe.
The Monhegan department has had to find solutions for fire that demand a minimum amount of training time. While there has been an effort to get firefighters trained, Monhegan chief Douglas Boynton knows that it is just too difficult. “It’s hard to keep people interested over time,” he says, “especially when years can go by between fires.” Instead, the town has invested in solutions that require a minimum of training for maximum effect.
The largest effort has been in educating islanders about fire prevention. Worries about fires in the deep woods, where there are a large number of blow-downs, resulted in a town ordinance banning smoking outside of the village. Caution is practiced in all areas. Large fire extinguishers are kept stationed in homes and vehicles around the island, and people were trained in their use. This allows for a quick response to fires. Such a response can “nip fires in the bud” before they reach dangerous levels. This simple effort has proven highly effective. Four years ago, a large hotel – the largest structure on the island – had a fire on the roof on an extremely windy day. As soon as it was spotted, several people responded with extinguishers, and managed to put out the fire before it spread. A larger disaster was averted, thanks to low-level technology and quick community reaction.
To help in case of a larger fire, Monhegan has hooked about 30 hydrants up to its town water supply – a dependable source of water. Unfortunately, this system only works during the six months that town water can run. There are also about 15 fire hoses scattered around the island at various points, allowing quick response. By reducing response time, it is hoped that fires can be contained for minimum damage. Boynton hopes to continue basic training on the island, as well as keep up on vehicle maintenance. But none of the measures could have any effect without the support of the community as a whole.
Isle au Haut, likewise, depends on the community and creative measures. Because half of the island is owned by Acadia National Park, much of the department’s equipment and training comes through the National Park Service, in exchange for help in case of a fire on park land. However, because the training through the park is only forest fire training, the department cannot legally enter a structure; they are restricted to suppression and prevention. Like Monhegan, the Isle au Haut department took a low-tech approach. It purchased large fire extinguishers to be mounted on the outside of each home and trained the community to operate them. This easy access to firefighting equipment allows community members to fight small car and grass fires quickly.
Although Isle au Haut fire chief George Lamson only has four or five regular firefighters – none of whom are going through state training right now – he has more volunteers that show up for training when they can. Last summer, community members – including the local Acadia National Park ranger – spotted a brush fire near a structure and managed to get it put out before Lamson, who was out on the water, managed to get to shore.
Turning such willingness into equipment has proven tricky. The department recently received an old oil truck as a donation from an oil company, and retrofitted it into a 2,200-gallon pumper. Lamson says that it is an improvement over the truck that was on the island when he first took the job as chief in 1995: “It didn’t run and it had no brakes.” Lamson hopes to improve his access to water sources, especially during the dry months, by increasing hose yardage.
The islanders are willing to work to improve their services. “We are determined to become an efficient fire department, eventually,” says Lamson. “It’s hard, but we are working towards it.”
Swan’s Island’s Fire Department also depends heavily on not only their volunteers, but on the community as a whole. When the island experienced a serious brush fire last year, at the height of the dry season, the entire community pitched in, according to Chief Dan Barnes. “Even if it was just directing traffic or going to the store to bring back water for the firefighters, people were tripping over each other to help.” The fire was so serious that Barnes considered calling the Maine Forest Service. “It was right on the edge of the deep woods. If it had gotten in, we’d still be fighting it.”
Barnes takes great pride in his active community and volunteers. He has about 21 firefighters in various stages of getting certified, not an easy feat since most of his firefighters are lobstermen. “They are real busy nine months out of the year, making a living. But whenever I page out a fire or emergency, I can look out and see the boats heading in. They drop what they’re doing, turn their boats around, and come back to help their community. It’s a marvelous thing.”
Even those who are not directly involved in the department are willing to step forward when necessary. The island has two fire stations: an old station, which is now used for overflow apparatus, including forest fire equipment, and a new station, located on a different part of the island, was built with a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). CDBG grants require a matching portion from the community, an amount that was raised at town meeting without a fight. “We couldn’t have accomplished it without the taxpayers,” says Barnes.
All of this community effort has paid off. Swan’s has four trucks – two pumpers and two tankers – ranging in age from early 1970s to 1998. At the fire last August, firefighters and community members were able to drag hose a quarter-mile into the woods to put out a major fire that would have challenged mainland departments. Earlier this year Barnes was sidelined with a serious medical problem, and he praises his assistant chief Robert Gardner with taking the reins. “He took over in my stead and did a marvelous job.” However, Barnes would like to see more work accomplished. He hopes to increase their water supply by getting some fire ponds and dry hydrants installed. And fundraising must always continue. But these goals should be easy in light of his strong base. “The most important part of any volunteer fire department is the volunteers – period.”