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During 2007 the Fire/Rescue Department responded to
435 calls for assistance, a 23% increase from 2006. 2007
was also the busiest year on record for the Fire/Rescue
Department in terms of calls for assistance, eclipsing
the previous record of 353 calls in 2006. 271 calls
(62%) were requests for medical assistance, while 164
calls (38%) were fire related. Approximately $340,000 of
tax-assessed property was directly threatened by fire
during the year. However, less than $25,000 of
tax-assessed property was actually destroyed by fire in
2007 with the largest fire loss occurring on May 9th
as the result of a fire at the Eastern Maine Snowmobile
Club. These fire loss numbers are significantly lower
than past years and are well below the National and
State average. Fire prevention, procedures by our
Department and our mutual aid departments are certainly
factors in this noticeable decline in our fire loss
data. Fortunately again this year there were no fire
deaths in our community.
Despite the decrease in
the actual number of fires in our community we continue
to witness a sharp rise in demand for other services
including medical emergencies and other hazardous
situations. This is in line with the national
experience. Fire departments across the country continue
to prepare, train and respond to all hazardous
situations within their communities. Some fire
departments are even changing their traditional “fire
department” name to “Emergency Services” which more
accurately reflects their true mission. Although we have
not yet made the name transition the Holden Fire/Rescue
Department and our dedicated members continue to prepare
for all hazardous situations which may occur in our
small rural community.
In addition to responding to emergencies
within our community members of the Fire/Rescue
Department spent many more hours each month training,
maintaining apparatus and equipment, pre-incident
planning, working in the community presenting fire and
injury prevention programs, assisting property owners,
developers and contractors with fire safety and fire
code information, issuing over 800 open burning permits,
keeping the fire station clean and simply maintaining a
high level of readiness to be able to respond to
emergency incidents 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
As always I would like to thank the citizens
of our community, the Town Council and Town staff for
their continued support of the Fire/Rescue Department. I
would be remised if I did not acknowledge and thank Town
Manager Larry Varisco for his guidance and support
during his 17 years as our Town Manager. We all wish
Larry a happy and healthy retirement.
Finally, I would also like to extend a
special thank-you to the members of the Fire/Rescue
Department for their support, dedication and
professionalism during the past year. The quality of
fire protection and delivery of emergency medical
services in Holden is directly related to community
support and the commitment of our members.
During 2007
the Fire/Rescue Department responded to the following
calls for assistance:
Emergency Medical Services
Motor Vehicle
Accidents 46
Trauma – Falls/Wounds
etc. 43
General Weakness /
Illness 42
Cardiac
Emergency
31
Respiratory
Emergency
22
Behavioral
Emergency
14
Diabetic
Emergency
12
Seizure
8
Lift
Assist
5
Lifeline /Welfare
Check 5
Other Medical
Emergencies 4
Unattended
Death
3
Abdominal
Pain
3
Cardiac
Arrest
2
Anaphylaxis
2
Overdose
1
Stroke (CVA)
1
Assault
1
Electrocution
1
Obstetrics
1
Blood Pressure
Clinics
24
TOTAL EMS 271
Fire
Service
Call
26
Smoke/Fire
Investigation
20
Fire/Smoke Alarm Activation
15
Tree Down in
Roadway 13
Tree on Utility
Lines
3
Assist to Police
8
Vehicle Fire
6
Flooded
Basement
6
Utility Line
Down
5
Flooded
Roadway
4
Structure
Fire
3
Arching Electrical
Lines
3
Grass/Brush/Woods
Fire
2
Fuel
Spill
2
Furnace
Malfunction
2
Utility Pole
Fire
1
Oven
Fire
1
Tree Fallen on
House 1
Elevator
Rescue
1
Sprinkler System
Activation
1
Mutual Aid to Eddington
15 (Received 11)
Mutual Aid to
Brewer 12
(Received 3)
Mutual Aid to
Orrington 7
(Received 2)
Mutual Aid to Dedham
7 (Received 4)
TOTAL FIRE 164
TOTAL FIRE & EMS 435
Respectfully
submitted,
James L. Ellis, Fire
Chief |
