Coopers Mills Volunteer Fire Chief Scott Higgins, 50, has retired after 17 years with Whitefield’s northernmost fire company. He also leaves his post as the town’s assistant fire chief.
Higgins emphasized his decision was to retire, not resign. He did not submit a letter to the board of selectmen but telephoned chairman Steve McCormick, who afterward said he was “kind of surprised. I didn’t see it coming. I thanked him for his service.”
Higgins, a Windsor resident, said his decision was not related to the town meeting votes March 20 to create a municipally organized volunteer fire and rescue department and to build a new central station next to the town office.
“I’ve got 30 years in [firefighting] – 13 years in Winthrop and 17 years here. It was time,” he said Tuesday. “I’ve done this all my adult life. It’s been fun but it’s kind of nice not having to wake up and go out to a fire call as the guys did the other night at 1 a.m.”
Born and brought up in Winthrop, Higgins began fighting fires for that town’s municipal fire department in 1980 when he was 20. When he left, he was lieutenant in charge of the 100-ft. aerial ladder. He joined the Coopers Mills VFD (“a great bunch of really dedicated guys”) and became chief about 10 years ago.
Higgins said that heading home from Whitefield’s annual town meeting, his thought was, “Okay, we’ve gotta move forward. The town has spoken.” He declined to give his personal opinion concerning the reorganization and the central station. The new municipal system collects all firefighters under the town’s umbrella, converts Coopers Mills and Kings Mills fire stations to satellites, and assigns responsibilities to one fire chief appointed by the board of selectmen.
A school bus driver and owner of Higgins Appliance, the former chief said his fellow firefighters were surprised and wondered if “it was something they did.” Higgins said he assured them they hadn’t, that it was “time for new guys to step forward.” Deputy chief Tim Yorks is expected to take over until a new chief is selected at the April 5 annual meeting.
Higgins said he stood ready and willing to help CMCFD in any way he could.
Looking ahead, Higgins said the success of the new department will “depend on the leadership, on how safe and enjoyable” the new system turns out to be. “I think I did a decent job, I kept everybody safe,” and despite the frustrations that went with the job, he said, “I had fun.”
His plans are to do more fishing and hunting, and to enjoy his five grandchildren.
Town chief Jim Brann stated he was somewhat surprised when Higgins informed him, “but not really. Scott and I had talked about it. We’ll miss his experience and leadership skills. It will seem funny going to a fire and not seeing him there.”
As a grandfather himself of two small children, Brann said he understood Higgins’ decision. “This business we’re in, you’re out almost every night of the week. It’s not just calls, but meetings, trainings. It’s unbelievable sometimes. He’ll be missed.”