Whitefield’s Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief have both announced plans to retire from their positions town’s fire department, effective June 30.
Fire Chief Tim Pellerin and Deputy Fire Chief Scott Higgins verbally informed the board of selectmen of their plans during the board’s meeting May 8.
Pellerin, who said he will continue working full-time as both the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director and 9-1-1 Director, said the time had come for him to give the reins of the fire department to someone younger.
Citing the increasing demands of his work with EMA and 9-1-1, he asked the board to accept his retirement from the Whitefield Fire Dept., effective June 30. In separate comments, Pellerin said he plans to remain a member of the department and is willing to help out as needed. He has been a chief officer in a fire department since 1994.
Pellerin began his firefighting career in 1980 when he joined the Brunswick Fire Dept. at age 18. He later joined the Portland Fire Dept. in 1985, and Westbrook Fire Dept. in 2000, where he stayed until 2005 when he moved to Lincoln County to become the EMA Director. He joined the Whitefield Fire Dept. the same year.
“It’s been a great ride and a great time. I want to thank the board publicly for this. Thank you for all you’ve done,” he said.
Higgins, also Whitefield’s EMA director, has been on the Whitefield Fire Dept. since 1993. He said his decision stemmed from wanting to spend more time with his grandchildren.
The Whitefield Selectmen accepted their retirements with regret and thanked them for all their hard work benefiting and supporting the community.
Pellerin said the volunteer fire department follows the same National Fire Academy standards in which career firefighters adhere.
“We have a great municipal department, and very well-trained members,” Pellerin said. “There should be a good candidate within the organization.”
Before coming to Whitefield, Scott Higgins was on the Winthrop Fire Dept. from 1979-1993.
“I’ve had fun. I enjoyed serving the community. Now it is time to relax,” Higgins said.
He drives the school bus for Jefferson and runs Higgins Appliance Service. He has six grandchildren with two more on the way.
