|Debra Smith|
NGX sat down with Chief Bouchard to learn about what’s happening with the New Gloucester Fire & Rescue, what’s working well, what is needed and the challenges they face.
Leadership and team culture
Bouchard was appointed chief in July 2023, after an extended search. He had been hired as a per diem member in June 2019, and was appointed part time deputy chief in August 2019. He strives to create a more member-centered culture in the department. “We believe all members are equal, and everyone’s ideas are valued the same. So many great ideas flow from the bottom up.” One example he described was team training in low-angle rope rescues, essential in rescuing someone who has fallen down a steep slope. This collaborative culture helps to increase involvement, commitment and retention. “It keeps people here because they’re happy,” noted the chief.
Recruitment a challenge
There are challenges with recruitment. It’s a big commitment. The training and certifications are a daunting task. A new hire with no fire experience needs to get certified as a firefighter 1& 2, which takes 6 months of evenings and weekends. And that’s just the basics. There’s continuing technical training, and everyone participates in weekly training to hone their skills. Per diem staff are already certified. To become initially certified as an EMT also takes 6 months and requires continuing education to recertify every 2 years.
Compensation is also a challenge. New Gloucester’s part time/ per diem team members are paid roughly $2/ hour less than their counterparts in surrounding communities. Catching up will require increasing and sustaining a higher rate. New Gloucester just received $15,000 in state EMS stabilization funds and NGFR will offer a stipend to current members with the funds and a higher pay rate through budget funding as of July 1. This will help, but another challenge is the limited pool of qualified paramedics, EMT’s, advanced EMTs and firefighters. “We’re competing with our neighbors to hire these ALS (Advanced Life Support) professionals. We’ll offer 6 ALS providers a sign-on bonus as of July 1 as part of the sustainability funding.”
Mutual aid
Bouchard’s collaborative culture extends to New Gloucester’s relationships with mutual aid partners from surrounding towns. “We’re more active than we were five years ago, because of the relationships we’ve built with other departments… We do meetings, trainings together and have been reliable in providing assistance.” For example, NGFR has collaborated in wildfire training with Pownal, North Yarmouth, Gray and the Maine Forest Service; and a wilderness rescue exercise at Pineland with Gray and Pownal. “We all rely on each other heavily. We know each other and can work together to iron out the kinks before we’re in an emergency situation.”
For some types of emergencies, NGFR must rely on equipment provided by mutual aid partners. New Gloucester does not have a UTV (universal terrain vehicle) or a craft for water rescue.
“With the bodies of water in town, and we loan out kayaks and canoes, we have no equipment to provide water rescue services in case of an emergency. We used to rely on Gray for water rescue equipment, but they no longer have a boat of their own. They contract with another community. NGFR has requested CIP (Capital Improvement Planning) funding for a water rescue boat and a UTV for the past several years, but they have not been funded.
Last spring, a week before NGFR’s request for CIP funds to purchase a UTV was denied, a local resident had to be rescued after a tree fell on him while he was using his tractor in the woods. There was a 20-30 minute delay, while waiting for equipment from two other towns. There was another wilderness rescue approximately 2 weeks later, which required, again, requesting a UTV from mutual aid partners, and meant a delay in rescuing the injured parties.
New Gloucester has thousands of acres of forest, and miles of recreational trails and farm fields. Borrowing equipment means delays, and if other departments are tied up, they may not be able to respond until they have completed those calls. “Having our own UTV would enable us to get our staff out there promptly to help.” NGFR has been requesting this equipment since 2021, but it has not been funded. “This is a critical challenge we’ve been trying to solve, through our own fundraisers and applying for grants,” explained Bouchard. To raise funds, NGFR has a shed at the transfer station for returnables, and an October 6 open house and barbecue.
Bouchard noted that the NGFR budget is based on known potential risks, and that they never go over budget. Still, this year’s budget was cut by $53,000.
Emergency needs and communication
Communication
For notification of residents, NGFR uses their Facebook page. They will be promoting the use of Code Red, an app that allows public safety alerts to the community. “At present, reverse 911 automatically sends messages to land lines, but very few people have those anymore. Code Red allows CCRCC to send messages to cell phones in the area.”
Residents can download the Code Red app and sign up for alerts here https://www.cumberlandcountyme.gov/departments/regional_communications_center/index.php
The Cumberland County Regional Communication Center sends out alerts, at the request of local departments. At the state or regional level, the Maine Emergency Management Agency can get out geofenced alerts to any phones in a prescribed area. NGFR and the CCRCC will have information about Code Red at the Community Fair/ 250th celebration on September 7, and at the NGFR Open House on October 6.
House numbers
It can be very difficult to find many homes in New Gloucester in an emergency, due to lack of visible house numbers. “Having your house number on your mailbox at the end of your driveway helps us to find you, and on the home, making sure that the numbers contrast with the color of your house is important.” (Note: A local ordinance requires residents to display house numbers for emergency personnel.)
Emergency events
For extreme weather events, the NGFR has opened up a warming and cooling center in the past, but it was not utilized. “The only people there were volunteers.” Staffing is the big issue with setting up a warming or cooling center. The town library offers a temperature-controlled environment when it’s open, and Gray offers additional access when there is extreme weather. “If someone needs help during extreme temperature events, they can call us at any time at 926-4142, or 911 in an emergency”. He would also like to see volunteers set up a check-in plan, calling homebound and other vulnerable residents on a regular basis.
The Red Cross and MEMA are supporting development of a regional shelter plans. There is currently no local emergency response plan for sheltering, noted Bouchard. “Typically, we develop a plan with other department heads for a specific event, based on who and what is available. Every event is different.”
Chief Bouchard is the town’s Emergency Management Director. In this role, he works to develop disaster response and recovery plans along with long term mitigation projects. Currently Chief Bouchard and other town staff are working with FEMA to potentially recover expenses incurred from the response and cleanup of the April 4th winter storm which took down many trees and power lines.
Proud to serve the community
“We’re here for the community, and take pride in doing it well. When people call 911, we’re ready to serve.”
“We’re always looking for more call company members. They can reach us at 926-4142.”
