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.