By Sherwood Olin
The Whitefield Board of Selectmen made a point of thanking members of Whitefield Fire & Rescue for the volunteer company’s service to the town during a spate of bad weather.
During an ice storm that started Christmas Eve and continued into Christmas Day, Whitefield volunteers fought two structure fires, aided one citizen suffering from hypothermia and rescued two others who were stricken by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Selectmen Frank Ober, Tony Marple, Lester Sheaffer, Dennis Merrill, and Lester Schaeffer made an impromptu visit to a meeting of the Whitefield Fire Department Jan. 13 to pay their respects and deliver a signed, framed letter from the board to the department spelling out a thank you on behalf of the town.
Members of the Whitefield Board of Selectmen present Whitefield Fire & Rescue with a formal commendation for the volunteers’ efforts serving the town during the Christmas ice storm. Fire Chief Scott Higgins (center) is flanked (from left) by Selectmen Dennis Merrill, Frank Ober, Lester Sheaffer, and Tony Marple. Selectman Steve McCormick was not present. (Sherwood Olin photo) |
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At the height of the Christmas Day ice storm 1210 CMP customers in Whitefield were without power. While making the presentation, Ober pointed out the power outage accounted for nearly all of the 1300 households in town.
“I am so proud of this department, each and every one of them,” Whitefield Fire Chief Scott Higgins said.
Higgins said it was a total team effort by his department with everyone pitching in to get the job done. “They did a good job. They are a fantastic crew,” he said.
The text of the letter states: “The Board of Selectmen hereby recognizes a job well done by the Whitefield Fire and Rescue Department for their response during the Christmas ice storm that crippled our community.
“On December 24, 2013, there were 1210 Central Maine Power customers in Whitefield who lost electricity. Weighted down by the ice, tree limbs snapped down, knocking down power lines and obstructing roadways. Temperatures reached the low teens and dipped into the single digits at night.
“Christmas Day proved to be a test of your resolve. During the early morning hours you answered a call for an electrical fire on Townhouse Road. You provided medical attention to a Grand Army Hill Road resident experiencing hypothermia. You battled a structure fire on Senott Road. And tragedy was avoided when rescue personal saved the lives of two elderly Heath Road residents who suffered severe carbon monoxide poisoning.
“Words cannot express how dedicated Whitefield Fire & Rescue is to our community – your actions have proven that. Keep up the good work. We are proud of you!”
