Waterville Fire Chief reacts to new role as Maine State Fire Marshal

There will be a new face in charge of the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office. Waterville Fire Chief Shawn Esler has been selected by Governor Mills to become the new state fire marshal. The 35 year-old Esler has been chief for six years in Waterville and has worked for the department for 16 years. Esler will take over for Richard McCarthy who recently retired. Although Esler is excited about the new role, he’s grateful for his time in Waterville. “I certainly am going to miss the city and the building,” said Esler. “Most importantly, it’s the relationships that I have formed along the way. This is very much a community, even though it’s a large city, we’re still tight-knit. I have a lot of people invest in me individually, and I’ve had a lot of people invest in the department over the years, and those are the things most important to me.”
WABI-TV CBS/CW+ 5 Bangor

Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department assists with the delivery of a baby on Route 15

Emergency responders are tasked with answering a wide array of calls for service and that was certainly the case for the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department on Tuesday, September 3rd. "Happened to be at the right place at the right time I guess you can call it," said Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department Firefighter and Advanced EMT Carter Merrill. On Tuesday at around 1 o'clock in the afternoon the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department responded to a call on the side of Route 15 (Bangor Road) around 5 miles away from the middle of town. That call wasn't one they usually get. "We were sitting at the table, it was our lunch break, and got toned out to the Bangor Road for a possible childbirth," said Merrill. According to the department, Chief Brian Gaudet, Assistant Chief and EMS Director Eric Melia, Firefighter and Advanced EMT Carter Merrill, quickly made their way to the car parked on the side of Route 15.
WFVX-LD FOX 22 Bangor

Bangor fire chief set to retire

VIDEO: At the end of this month, Bangor Fire Chief Tom Higgins will retire. Higgins spent 34 years as a firefighter in Bangor. He was there for things like the Masonic Hall fire downtown more then two decades ago. “We couldn’t get in. It wasn’t safe to be in there, so we’re outside all night. It’s like 20 below zero. A long couple of days. I worked 38 straight hours” said Chief Higgins. Higgins was the Chief in Hermon while working in Bangor, too. Nine and a half years ago, he took over for Chief Jeff Cammack who he says was instrumental as a mentor, but adds nothing can truly prepare you for the job. “No one knows what it’s like to sit in the big chair until you sit in the big chair” said Higgins. Over three decades, on the job there were hard days. “The loss of employees we lost. We lost a couple employees along the way. Seeing CPR performed on one of your own employees is tough” said Chief Higgins.
WABI-TV CBS/CW+ 5 Bangor

Three firefighters injured, several pets killed by blaze that destroyed Jay apartment building

VIDEO: The Maine State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating a fire that leveled an apartment building in Jay Tuesday night. Maine's Total Coverage has learned that 10 residents were able to safely escape the fire, which fully engulfed the three-story, six-unit building at 6 Jewell St. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, while several pets died in the fire. The Jay Fire Department said more than 60 firefighters from eight departments helped put out the flames. Laurie Tarbush, who lived on the third floor of the home with her 9-year-old daughter, Scotlyn, said they heard what sounded like neighbors fighting and then people screaming: 'Fire! Get out!' "I went to the bathroom window to see what was going on and it was all orange," Tarbush said. "I turned around and I told her: 'We've got to go.'"
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