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• Fire Chief's Corner

Annual Report for the Southwest Harbor Fire Department
for the year of 2011
The Southwest Harbor Fire Department responded 121 times to your calls for assistance during 2011.  Just over 10,000 Personnel hours were spent by our members taking care of:
19 Structure Fires                                      11 Motorvehicle Accidents
14 Hazardous material incidents                  11 Emergency Medical Calls
6   Vegetation related fires                         21 Public Service Calls
39 Other calls for assistance.
One of the more interesting calls brought us together with the Swans Island Fire Department, on Swans Island, for a house fire.  This opportunity gave us the chance to test our mutual aid response plans to off shore Islands and helped us fine tune our training and equipment considerations.
Along with the regular training and certification programs our Fire Fighters work toward throughout the year, a new State mandate, applying to the drivers of our fire apparatus, was put into place this year by the state of Maine.  This “standard” requires that each driver complete a training program equivalent to obtaining a commercial driver’s license and spend a significant amount of time demonstrating their proficiency in handling each piece of equipment on the road. 
The Southwest Harbor Fire Association had another busy year carrying out their long standing traditions of providing scholarships to our high school graduates going further in their education, public events to support their community projects  and for aid to families in need of a little help to get through these tough economic times.  Looking for a great opportunity to help your community?  The Fire Association is always in need of more members to help them provide the fantastic services they do.  If you would like to find out more, contact them at swhfireassoc@swhfire.org.
I am proud to report that Jen Martel successfully completed the Hancock County Fire academy program last spring and we now benefit from having another fully trained fire fighter on our roster.  WAY TO GO JEN!
The Department also made a number of promotions within our ranks with Thom Willey moving  up to the Engineering field supervisors position, Dave Kelly is now our Senior Line officer and Lynn Brown, Jen Martel and Randy Summers have been promoted to Operations Lieutenants.  Congratulations to you all! 
During the year, we also said goodbye to 3 very faithful workhorses that have been on call day and night for the last 30 years to respond to the town’s emergencies.   Engine 104, the Forestry unit, was donated to the Islesford fire department, Engine 105 is now serving the Swans Island community and Ladder 102 is living in Sorrento and serving 7 Hancock county communities.  Replacing them is our new Combination Ladder Truck and Pumper delivered on New Year ’s Day 2012.  This truck combines the missions of each of our retired trucks and more!  With a ladder capable of reaching over 100’ from where its parked to the 2000 gallon per minute pump and water tank and the storage capabilities for the ever expanding inventory of tools and equipment we need to handle any emergency, this truck is a tool box on wheels.  Carrying 6 fully equipped firefighters to the scene of an emergency in a single vehicle saves both time and expenses for the department .  I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Townspeople for supporting this purchase as it will give our volunteer firefighters the right equipment to face the ever expanding inventory of emergencies they are called on to take care of.
Would you all please join me in giving thanks to our men and women that serve our community as volunteers with the Fire Department and the Fire Association,  and the dedicated first responders that staff our Ambulance service, Police Department and Dispatch service.  Our Town is blessed to have so many who are willing to set aside their own needs for the needs of the community.
Respectfully submitted
Sam Chisholm, Chief
Southwest Harbor Fire Department