8331_NewGloucester_2021-2022_AnnualReport_Web

Fire Prevention Over the past few years, our fire prevention program has been revamped and taken off under the leadership of Lieutenant Chris Gill. This year, Lt. Gill and crews were able to visit both Memorial and Dunn Schools. They provided fire prevention education at three local day cares. They also had a presence at six other local community events, the biggest being our Open House and Chicken BBQ. Lt. Gill has identified that fire prevention and education is more than a week in October, but a year round job that is beneficial to all age groups. Through his hard work, we have reached a larger demographic of our community. Though it is tough to capture specific metrics on the success of the program, one can safely assume that fire prevention education has been far reaching in our community. As Ben Franklin advised Philadelphia about the threat of fire in the 1700s, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We want to thank Lt. Gill for his dedication to providing fire prevention on a year round basis to many community members. If you or your organization would like education on fire safety, please reach out to us and we will get you in contact with Lt. Gill. In conclusion, 2022 was a dynamic year that not only provided us with a busy call volume, but allowed members to grow and succeed. Many members experienced a significant “first” this year. These include first fires, first auto-extrications, and first serious medical calls. The dedication our members have to training and their craft was evident as they performed exceptionally well on these calls, providing the best possible outcomes for those who needed our services. Not every outcome is a win, but when we get back to the station and can say we “did a good job,” we improve as an organization and as individuals. We would like to extend a special thank you to the voters of New Gloucester for approving the funding for our replacement ambulance. The current ambulance has served the town well, and the new one will continue to do that with many updated safety features that follow the industry standard. Our department would also like to thank Craig Bouchard for his leadership as Interim Fire Chief. Chief Bouchard has done the work of a full time Chief, while working his career job in Auburn and having a family at home. His dedication and commitment to our organization and community is something we are very grateful for. We wish everyone a safe and healthy 2023, and we will be here ready to respond quickly and professionally if called upon. Respectfully submitted, Captain/Paramedic Hale Fitzgerald

31