EDDINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANTS

Fire Chief Ellis reported at the April 20, 2010 Selectmen's Meeting the Eddington Fire Department received some valuable grants during recent months. A $15,000.00 grant was received from the federal department of Homeland Security for firefighter protective equipment. This grant will be matched with $800.00 of local money. And a Title IV - Rural Community grant from the Maine Department of Conservation for slightly over $2,100.00 was also received that will go toward the purchase of firefighter protective equipment. The protective equipment consists of helmets, goggles, shirts and pants. Craig Russell was credited by Chief Ellis for having written the grant proposals.

Chief Ellis also reported that $1,000.00 in restitution was received as awarded by the court relating to a fire last year in Eddington.

A three-phase promotion process was recently conducted within the department resulting in Craig Russell being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. (There was one other individual also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant; however, this writer did not capture the name or if that individual is with the Eddington Fire Department or the Holden department. Perhaps a reader will provide the name in the "comments" section.)

The three phases consisted of an Oral Board, a peer-review of candidates leadership qualifications, and a situation response component for the candidates address.

Congrats to Russell. Between his contributions to the www.EddingtonMaine.gov website, his very successful research and grant application capabilities, and incident response records, it is obvious he has provided valuable contributions to the town.

The Chief also reported the two current live-in fire response students will be graduating in May. At that point their tenure at the fire house will end. The Chief has contacted EMMC to find/recruit any qualified students who may fill those slots; however, it is not known if/when that search will be successful. Until it is, those coverage currently provided at the firehouse will depend on response from the regular fire-fighter force. Let us hope Chief Ellis is successful in the recruitment process.