March was a busy month for Edgecomb Fire Rescue.  We responded to 34 calls, compared with 21 calls in February. March calls included 20 medical emergencies (ME), eight motor vehicle accidents (MVA), five fire calls, and one other call. For the year-to-date, we have responded to 70 calls. 

Several of our firefighters participated in joint training with Westport, Wiscasset, and Alna fire departments on hydrant use, hosted by the Wiscasset Fire Department. Other training included our monthly truck check of all apparatus and equipment, and training on the operation of Engine 51 and installed equipment on Engine 51. Ongoing training is critical in maintaining our readiness to respond to any call. 

Junk cars wanted

The Edgecomb Fire Department, along with multiple partnering fire departments, will be conducting large-scale, in-depth vehicle extrication training this August. We need all the junk cars we can get our hands on! 

This training is invaluable, as it allows firefighters to gain hands on experience with specialized equipment that is (fortunately) not used very often.  Working with real vehicles gives our firefighters practical, real-world knowledge of vehicle construction and how to quickly and safely gain access to a trapped person.  When faced with an actual car situation, these skills can save lives. 

If you or anyone you know has a junk vehicle, no matter what the condition, please contact the department at (207) 882-9618.  We will arrange towing at no cost to you.  Thank you for helping us to train and protect our community. 

March call report 

Following is a list of the calls in chronological date order: 

March 2, 5:34 p.m.: ME for a 67-year-old male in extreme pain; 5:58 p.m.: MVA at 918 Boothbay Road for a single-vehicle car versus deer, property damage only. 

March 3, 11:42 a.m.: ME for a 79-year-old male, fallen and needing a lift assist; 8:12 p.m.: MVA at 727 Boothbay Road for a car off the road in ditch, property damage only. 

March 4, 6:31 a.m.: ME for a 58-year-old male collapsed in yard, suspected diabetic episode. 

March 5, 9:27 a.m.: Fire Alarm at 897 Boothbay Road for a possible commercial gas leak. 

March 8, 4:52 p.m.: ME for a 67-year-old male in extreme pain and vomiting; 7:10 p.m.: Fire Alarm at 708 River Road for a smoke detector alarm activated. 

March 9, 6:56 a.m.: Mutual aid to Wiscasset for a residential structure fire at 153 Beechnut Hill Road, tanker requested at fire scene. 

March 10, 4:22 a.m.: ME for a 38-year-old male with flu symptoms and fatigue; 10:42 a.m.: ME for an 86-year-old male with sharp abdominal pain and nausea. 

March 11, 7:36 a.m.: Structure Fire at 426 Cross Point Road for a shack on fire. 

March 12, 7:58 a.m.: ME for a 61-year-old female with abdominal pain and nausea. 

March 13, 7:34 p.m.: ME for a 67-year-old male in extreme pain. 

March 14, 12:01 p.m.: MVA at 820 Boothbay Road, for a single vehicle car in ditch, property damage only. 

March 15, 11:31 a.m.: MVA at River Road and McKay Road for a two-car collision, unknown personal injuries. 

March 17, 10:20 a.m.: Fire alarm at 41 Route 1 for a blown transformer with power outage; 11:57 a.m.: MVA at Boothbay Road and Middle Road for a single-vehicle car versus deer, property damage only. 

March 18, 2:58 p.m.: ME for a 67-year-old male with medical complications. 

March 19, 11:35 a.m.: ME for a 101-year-old female in pain from a previous fall; 8:04 p.m.: ME for a 64-year-old female, unconscious and not breathing; 10:15 p.m.: ME for a 38-year-old male having seizures and difficulty breathing. 

March 22, 11:15 a.m.: MVA at 132 Wiscasset Road for a single-vehicle rollover with driver trapped and needing extrication; 2:32 p.m.: MVA at 371 Boothbay Road for a single vehicle off road and down embankment, unknown personal injuries; 2:58 p.m.: MVA at 897 Boothbay Road for a single vehicle car slid off road, property damage only. 

March 23, 9:40 p.m.: ME for an 86-year-old male, fallen and needing lift assist. 

March 26, 5:07 p.m.: ME for a 101-year-old female, fallen and bleeding from head. 

March 27, 12:33 a.m.: ME for a 38-year-old male with alcohol poisoning. 

March 28, 9:40 p.m.: ME for an 86-year-old male, fallen and needing lift assist. 

March 29, 11:27 a.m.: ME for an 87-year-old female, medical alarm for a fall, needing heavy lift assist.  12:28 pm: Brush Fire at 289 Cross Point Road for an unpermitted brush fire which spread to the blueberry field. 

March 30, 3:05 pm: ME for a 38-year-old male, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding; 4:59 p.m.: ME for a 70-year-old male, with weakness and immobility; 8:02 p.m.: Other at 24 Route 1 for a flooded basement. 

Weekly department meetings 

The department meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the fire station. Anyone interested in learning more about the department is welcome to attend. We are always looking for more volunteers—no experience necessary!