gorham fire department

 

 

 

 

 

2004 Annual Report

 

 

 

Robert S. Lefebvre

Chief of Department

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Letter from Chief of Department                                                                               Page 1

Mission Statement                                                                                                     Page 3

Opening Statement                                                                                                    Page 4

Administrative Division                                                                                            Page 5

 

            Administrative Division Personnel                                                                    Page 6

Line Company Officers                                                                                      Page 7

 

Statistical Data                                                                                                          Page 8

 

            2004 Yearly Response Breakdown                                                                      Page 9

            2004 Yearly Call Reasons                                                                                  Page 10

            Apparatus Report                                                                                              Page 11

 

Station and Apparatus Reports

 

            Central Station                                                                                                 Page 12

            Engine 1                                                                                                           Page 15

            Engine 2                                                                                                           Page 16

Squad 1                                                                                                            Page 18

Squad 2                                                                                                            Page 20

            Ladder 1                                                                                                           Page 23

            Rescue 1 & 2                                                                                                    Page 25

            Tower 3                                                                                                             Page 28

            North Gorham/White Rock                                                                               Page 29

            Engine 4                                                                                                           Page 31

            Tank 2                                                                                                              Page 33

            Marine 4                                                                                                           Page 34

            Engine 5                                                                                                           Page 35

            Forestry 1                                                                                                         Page 36

            Snowmobile 1                                                                                                   Page 37

            West Gorham                                                                                                   Page 38

            Engine 6                                                                                                           Page 40

            Tank 3                                                                                                              Page 41

            Tank 1                                                                                                              Page 42

                       

Special Divisions Reports                                                                                          Page 43

 

            Training Division Report(s)                                                                                Page 44

Fire Prevention Report(s)                                                                                  Page 48

            Student Live–In Report                                                                                     Page 52

            Junior Firefighter Report                                                                                   Page 54

            Honor Guard Report                                                                                          Page 56

            Squad 1 Specification Committee Report                                                                       Page 58

            Fire Alarm Report                                                                                              Page 61

            Presumscott River Valley Haz – Mat Team                                                         Page 63

            Annual Awards Banquet Report                                                                         Page 66

            Gun ‘N’ Hoses’ Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament                                        Page 70

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF

 

 

It is with great pride and appreciation that I write this letter on behalf of the men and women who serve with the Gorham Fire/Rescue Department. I would first like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the citizens, businesses, Town Council and Town Manager David Cole for their continued support of the Department and our programs. With out that support many of our programs would not be possible.

 

I would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to our Mutual Aid Departments, and especially their leadership Chief Charles Hammond of Windham, Chief Craig Butkus of Standish, Chief Gary Littlefield of Westbrook, and Chief Mike Thurlow of Scarborough. Through their continued cooperation, joint efforts, and leadership we have been able to provide a better level of protection to the Community of Gorham at a much reduced cost. The value of the continued cooperation was shown during two major fires in Gorham this year. The fire at Robert’s Welding and the fire at the Mosher Farm brought our mutual aid companies directly to the scene. We will continue to work with these communities in an effort to improve services, while reducing cost.

 

As Chief of the Department I consider it a true privilege to serve with the dedicated and caring men and women who make up the membership of the Fire/Rescue Department. The citizens of Gorham are very well served and protected by the highly trained and dedicated membership, who are ready to handle a wide variety of emergencies including emergency medical calls, fire calls, water rescues, hazardous materials incidents, extrication of victims of auto accidents, confined space rescues, and weapons of mass destruction.

 

Our Fire Prevention Division provides educational programs throughout the year in schools, daycares, as well as our elderly housing projects. They also provide a juvenile fire setter intervention program for children who have been found to have started or been involved with setting fires. The division offers a program of hosting birthday parties at the Fire Station. Children have their parties, which include fire prevention activities, as well as the birthday child getting their selection of truck to ride home on. The Fire Prevention division took delivery of two robots and a 38 foot fire prevention trailer this year. These items were purchased through a Federal Grant. These items have had a very positive impact on our program and we look forward to their continued use in future programs. I would like to also recognize the outstanding efforts of Firefighter Daleleen Leighton who is in charge of this program, as well as serving as our juvenile setter coordinator.

 

The commitment that is required for a person to remain an active member in the Department requires a great deal of sacrifice, dedication, and immense amount of time. Not only are members required to answer more and more calls each year, they are also required to put in many hours of training to maintain their knowledge and skill level. Many of our members well exceed over 300 hours of training a year, along with responding to calls.

 

Many citizens throughout the community do not realize that the vast majority of our fire and rescue force are volunteer/call members, who respond from their homes or work, and receive hourly pay only when they are responding to calls. During the daytime we have 2 fulltime staff members on duty, along with the Chief, and one per diem person 6 days a week. After 6pm we only have one fulltime staff member on duty, with all other functions being covered by our call personnel.

 

I would also like to recognize, and extend my thanks and appreciation to the families of our members. The sacrifices that family members give throughout the year are many, from missed birthdays, delayed Christmases, missed Thanksgivings, kid’s ballgames and many other family activities. Without the support of our families none of us would be able to make the commitment it takes to do this job.

 

I would also like to give my sincere thanks and appreciation to my Deputies, staff and Company Officers, who contribute so much to the efficient operation of this Department. Without your dedication and tireless efforts none of what we do would be possible. Your efforts have resulted in the citizens of Gorham having one of the best-trained and operated Departments in the State of Maine.

 

A special recognition is also given to Lt. Nathan Schools, who through his sole efforts is responsible for the production of this annual report. 

 

     As the Town continues to grow, and the demands for service continue to grow, the Department will continue to make the commitment to meet the challenges presented by an ever-changing community. I would encourage each and every person reading this report to review the Departments Mission Statement that is enclosed. This mission Statement is more then just a statement it is what every member of this Department lives by and pledges to you the citizens each and every day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mission Statement

 

 

Our Mission: The Gorham Fire/Rescue Department shall be a leader in the delivery of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services and to transform today’s Fire/Rescue Service into a progressive, proactive, professional and cost effective service.  A service that will exceed today’s, and meet tomorrows demands.

 

Our Values: The Gorham Fire/Rescue Department’s values are based upon the fact that: we care for our customers and each other with dignity, respect, honesty, compassion and kindness.  We encourage all department members to embark on a quest for personnel excellence be being responsible for their action, practicing the highest degree of ethical behavior, and to use their best judgment in making decisions.

 

Our Commitment: The Gorham Fire/Rescue Department Shall commit to the delivery of extraordinary customer services, including proactive public safety programs, code enforcement, and professional response to all calls for service.  We will not be satisfies with status quo, and will continually search for better and more cost effective ways to serve the customer and achieve our professional goals.  We will be innovative be constantly exploring new concepts and methods in order to increase our efficiency and/or effectiveness.  We will aggressively seek an accept partnerships to improve the quality of our organization and service.  We will further encourage personal growth through the offerings of numerous training opportunities in order to assure the highest degree of skills and safety available to out customers.

 

Or Mission: The Gorham Fire Rescue department’s mission will always remain: to protect and enhance the high quality of life of our residence, guests and neighboring communities through effective, safe and efficient delivery of emergency and non – emergency services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Statement

 

 

I've seen the Angels Cry


I have always thought that angels wore halos and wings of white

but now I find they wear hard hats and black coats with yellow stripes.

 

And angels, in my mind, wore long flowing gowns of white

but now I see dark pants and shirts and badges shining bright

 

And angels always floated, with bare feet above the ground; not true!

for they wear steel-toed boots and go where death is found

 

 Not all angels have smooth hands that look like porcelain

some angels have torn gloves and cuts and burns upon their skin

 

And while I thought all angels glowed from heavens light

I see an angel cutting steel, his torch is shining bright

 

And while these earthly angels passed buckets of debris

the angels up in heaven looked down on bended knee

 

so while the smoke continued to rise into the sky,

I watched the rescue workers weep; I've seen the angels cry.

 

Gorham Fire Department

 

 

 

Administrative Division

 

 

 

 

Administrative Division

 

 

Administration Division

 

Robert S. Lefebvre                                                         Chief of Department

Kenneth A. Fickett                                               Deputy Fire Chief

James Poitras                                                       Deputy Fire Chief

Karen Paro                                                           Deputy EMS Chief

Michael Kuscma Jr.                                             Deputy Fire Chief

Sandra Berry                                                        Administrative Assistant

 

 

Support Personnel

 

Staff Officers

 

Michael Hoyt Sr.                                                  Safety Captain

Henry Hamblen Jr.                                              Safety Captain

Les Howard                                                          Safety Captain

Philip Shearman                                                  Fire Chaplin

Bruce Cyr                                                             Fire Inspector

Brent Libby                                                          Fire Inspector

 

Public Safety Dispatchers

 

Michael Nault                                                       Supervisor

          Michael Russell                                                    Dispatcher

          Trixi Morin                                                           Dispatcher

          Julie Poland                                                         Dispatcher

          Christine Shepard                                                         Dispatcher

          Kimberly Drowne                                                 Dispatcher

          Kate O’Gorman                                                    Dispatcher

          Nathan Schools                                                    Dispatcher

          Brent Libby                                                          Dispatcher

          Lori Thompson                                                     Dispatcher

 

* The Public Safety Dispatchers are under the direction of the Gorham Police Department.

 

 

 

 

 

Line Company Officers

 

Captains

 

Ken Thorpe                                                          Fire Captain

Michael P. Nault                                                   Fire Captain

Mark Theriault                                                     Fire Captain

Terry S. Deering                                                   Fire Captain

Brian Cousino                                                      Fire Captain

Sharen Deering                                                    EMS Captain

Peter Russo                                                          Fire Police Captain

Ken Kennedy                                                       Fire Captain

 

Lieutenants

 

Michael Hoyt Jr.                                                   Fire Lieutenant

Scott Mason                                                         Fire Lieutenant

Kathy Hodgkins                                                   EMS Lieutenant

Nathan Schools                                                    Fire Lieutenant

Lori Thompson                                                     EMS Lieutenant

James Rogers                                                       Fire Lieutenant

Sheldon Gregoire                                                 Fire Lieutenant

Tim Johnson                                                        Fire Lieutenant

Bruce Cyr                                                             Fire Lieutenant

Scott Krum                                                          Fire Lieutenant

Art Greene                                                           Fire Lieutenant

Tom Bahoon                                                         Fire Lieutenant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorham Fire Department

 

 

 

Statistical Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorham Fire Department

Yearly Response Breakdown

 

Apparatus

 

2002

2003

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Rescue 1

 

1,461

1,437

1,396

Rescue 2

 

273

336

331

Engine1

 

434

468

494

Engine 2

 

450

510

510

Engine 3

 

n/a

61

n/a

Standish Engine 4

200

170

247

Engine 5

 

113

89

139

Engine 6

 

152

169

225

Engine 7*

 

4

1

4

Scarborough Engine 5*

20

38

31

Windham Engine 1*

7

8

19

Ladder 1

 

214

234

205

Tower 3

 

n/a

n/a

152

Squad 1

 

349

346

421

Squad 2

 

n/a

n/a

2

Tank 1*

 

246

247

274

Tank 2*

 

57

32

75

Tank 3

 

27

32

46

Windham Unit 8*

59

57

79

Marine 4

 

7

11

3

Haz Mat 2

 

13

4

8

Forestry 1

 

7

5

12

Snowmobile

 

n/a

n/a

1

Fire Police

 

n/a

n/a

177

Canteen 1

 

1

1

2

Car 1

Lefebvre

189

166

156

Car 2

Fickett

166

140

103

Car 3

Kuscma

106

194

107

Car 4

Poitras

164

142

137

Car 5

Paro

0

6

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL(S)

4,719

4,904

5,028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorham Fire Department

Call Reasons