September 26, 2016
Want to learn how your local fire and rescue departments keep you and your neighbors safe? Interested in who the dedicated volunteers are and what they do? Thinking of serving your community in a meaningful and important way?
Then stop by the Orr’s Island Fire Station beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, for an open house to mark the national Fire Prevention Week and the ongoing effort by Harpswell’s three fire and rescue departments to recruit more people to help keep the volunteer service alive.
Hosted by the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department, the open house will feature live demonstrations of firefighting and rescue equipment, an opportunity to meet the firefighters, emergency medical technicians, drivers and other volunteers, and information on how to join them and fill a variety of rewarding roles.
“There is a critical need for more volunteers throughout the town and we hope people will come out and see what we do and how they can help,” said Benjamin Wallace, chief of both OBIFD and the Cundy’s Harbor Volunteer Fire Department.
Harpswell is served by three volunteer fire and rescue departments which answer calls within their home districts and work together to fight fires, train and perform other duties.
OBIFD serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24 and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge on Mountain Road. The Cundy's Harbor department covers all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road. Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing arrows bridge.
All Harpswell residents, regardless of home address, are invited to attend the open house, which will also feature information on home and fire safety and emergency planning in honor of national Fire Prevention Week.
Held annually in the week around the October 9 anniversary of the Chicago Fire of 1871, Fire Prevention Week aims to highlight the dangers of fire and promote ways to keep them from occurring or causing injuries, deaths or property damage.
This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait - Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.”
To find out the age and expiration date, just look on the back of any alarm for the date of manufacture. The smoke alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.
Fire officials also recommend testing smoke alarms monthly, and batteries should be replaced once a year or when they begin to chirp, signaling that they’re running low.
For more information on smoke alarms and this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.
More information about the three Harpswell departments, including how to join as a volunteer, is available at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org, or by leaving a message for Wallace at 207-844-8105.
Want to learn how your local fire and rescue departments keep you and your neighbors safe? Interested in who the dedicated volunteers are and what they do? Thinking of serving your community in a meaningful and important way?
Then stop by the Orr’s Island Fire Station beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, for an open house to mark the national Fire Prevention Week and the ongoing effort by Harpswell’s three fire and rescue departments to recruit more people to help keep the volunteer service alive.
Hosted by the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department, the open house will feature live demonstrations of firefighting and rescue equipment, an opportunity to meet the firefighters, emergency medical technicians, drivers and other volunteers, and information on how to join them and fill a variety of rewarding roles.
“There is a critical need for more volunteers throughout the town and we hope people will come out and see what we do and how they can help,” said Benjamin Wallace, chief of both OBIFD and the Cundy’s Harbor Volunteer Fire Department.
Harpswell is served by three volunteer fire and rescue departments which answer calls within their home districts and work together to fight fires, train and perform other duties.
OBIFD serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24 and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge on Mountain Road. The Cundy's Harbor department covers all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road. Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing arrows bridge.
All Harpswell residents, regardless of home address, are invited to attend the open house, which will also feature information on home and fire safety and emergency planning in honor of national Fire Prevention Week.
Held annually in the week around the October 9 anniversary of the Chicago Fire of 1871, Fire Prevention Week aims to highlight the dangers of fire and promote ways to keep them from occurring or causing injuries, deaths or property damage.
This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait - Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.”
To find out the age and expiration date, just look on the back of any alarm for the date of manufacture. The smoke alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.
Fire officials also recommend testing smoke alarms monthly, and batteries should be replaced once a year or when they begin to chirp, signaling that they’re running low.
For more information on smoke alarms and this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.
More information about the three Harpswell departments, including how to join as a volunteer, is available at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org, or by leaving a message for Wallace at 207-844-8105.