On day six we finally got plowed out, or rather backhoe(d) out. By my mother's plow guy, the local Fire Chief.
New England is filled with small towns and at their heart are volunteer fire departments. As I have said before, this is a group that collectively has been nicer to us than most any other, both when we met up as friends or as strangers. As the name suggests, they are unpaid. They are also extremely dedicated and competent.
The blizzard caused significant medical emergencies. While we were all safely inside, not only did her plow driver have to react as a first responder in his capacity as Chief, but he also had to bring in his equipment to clear the snow to get there. In the aftermath, he has been recruited by the overwhelmed town to help clear the streets, while still responding to "snow-blowered" fingers and other accidents, and all the while attending to his regular plow customers, who were not universally in the best of moods!
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| The Fire Chief, after six nights of almost no sleep, is still smiling. |
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| The driveway with settled and very heavy snow was not a one-man job. His father, the former Fire Chief, operated the backhoe. |
Some pictures of my favorite Maine Volunteers and their Fire Departments over the years. It is much more interesting to watch them than to need them.
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| The Heart of Many Towns |
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| Still a One Bay Station |
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| They aid a patient coming off one of the islands. |
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| Now a Two Bay Station |
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| They host chowder suppers. |
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| With a diminished Coast Guard presence in this part of mid-coast Maine, water rescues fall to them. |
10 comments:
Your fire chief sounds like a real hero. Maybe deserves some home baked cookies.
These fire departments are a wonderful example of "old" New England that are still going strong today.
Wow! Sure hope the Town is reimbursing that guy for his fuel!
This incident is a good argument for a decent 4x4 with real 4 wheel drive and quality tires....you would have been out on day 1. Nevertheless, glad you and yours are safe and tip of the hat to your local guys.
Indeed, the guy who plows our driveway is a volunteer firefighter. But I also have a Ford F-150 with excellent tires and can drive thru most anything.
"Snow-blowered fingers".....That's a new one!
These guys are the backbone of every American small town. God bless them.
Oh Muffy! They really are heroes, and I appreciate your tribute to them.
I've always found volunteer firefighters to be great people. How wonderful of them to plow for you! I just adore the "coziness" of the small village churches and firehouse suppers and pot lucks. That chowder supper looks very festive! --Holly in PA
Thank you for this wonderful post. I agree with Rachel that they are the backbone of all small towns and are true servants to their communities. Glad you are no longer snow bound.
Since moving to my small town in Western Nevada (near Tahoe), and even before that when I was familiar with this rural area, I came to know and appreciate the rural volunteer firefighter. Why do they do it? They just enjoy responding to intense situations and they like serving the community is all I can come up with.
Memories fade over the decades of what the volunteers have done. In this area, they saved a whole neighborhood from wildland fire nearly two decades ago. I remember it. That year the annual fundraiser barbecue at the firehouse was overloaded with people and monetary contributions. But, people move on.
What else can we do but honor them in word and in our hearts? And, help them have the equipment and supplies they need.
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