In 1890, Westbrook was not as yet declared a city, but the need for fire protection was recognized as buildings and businesses were booming. The leading citizens of that time met and declared that it was time to organize two fire companies to protect against the ravishes of fire. The mayor at that time was the Honorable Leander Valentine.
On July 16, 1890, the fire companies were formed and named Presumpscot Hose Company No. 1 and Valentine Hose Company No. 2. Up to 15 firefighters were assigned to each hose company and into it came fathers and sons from some of the best families of the day. The first year they received no pay, but membership was considered an honor.
Here’s a capsule look at the history of the department since then.
• First Fire Chief Charles H. Leighton in 1890 hired Westbrook’s first full-time firefighters, Charles Beesley at Hose No. 1 and George Bennett Hose No. 2.
• Westbrook became a city in 1891 and the fire department continued to flourish. A steam fire whistle atop Dana Warp Mill was installed and blew loudly whenever there was a fire alarm. Call firefighters dropped whatever they were doing and ran to their fire house. The firefighters donned their fire equipment, hooked the horses to the hose wagon and raced to the fire location.
• In 1893, William Parker became chief.
• On July 22, 1893, the fire department recognized the need for a hook and ladder wagon and the ladder company known as Edwards Combination was formed and housed at Mechanic Street Station along side Valentine Hose No. 2.
• In 1895, the City of Westbrook installed five fire alarm boxes. The year closed with nine fire calls.
• 1898, Chief Albert Meserve.
• 1903, Chief George Leighton.
• 1907, Chief Isaac Blackwood.
• 1909, Chief Thomas Beatty.
• 1911, Chief M. L, Shackford.
• 1913, Chief James Fairservice.
• 1915, Chief Harold Lord.
• 1917, Chief Marshall Merrill.
• 1919 Chief Ernest Estes.
• 1920 Westbrook’s first motorized equipment is a 920 Reo Chemical Truck built in Lansing City, Mich.
• 1921 Chief Frank Robinson.
• 1923 Chief Lewis Hendrickson.
• 1925 Chief Albert Merserve.
• 1927 Chief James McClellan.
• 1929 Chief Oscar Libby.
• 1932 Chief Edward Barker.
• 1932 New truck is 1932 Mack Hook and Ladder.
• 1933 Chief Ed Reney.
• 1936 Chief Thomas Smith,
• 1942 Chief Robert Burrows.
• 1926 Prides Corner Hose Company organized.
• July 7 1944, Capt. William Hartley injured and later died on Sept 12 from a falling chimney at a farm fire on County Road. He is the only member to have given his life while on duty.
• 1927 Riverton Dance Hall burns.
• Feb. 13, 1942, fire destroys Carr Block in Vallee Square.
• 1947 Chief Cecil McAloney.
• 1947 New Cumberland Mills Fire Station.
• October 1947, worst forest fires in Maine history, destroying over 2 million acres.
• Oct. 24, 1951, Arthur Swett Sr. retires after 33 years of service.
• 1952 The entry-level pay for full-time firefighter is $56.50.
• 1952 New ladder truck is 65-foot,1952 Seagraves Jr. Service.
Dec.12, 1953 Bill Hunky Dyer retires after 27 years of service.
• 1954 Fire department consist of three fire stations, seven pieces of equipment, 12 permanent firefighters, two dispatchers, 57 call firemen and 14 subs. City has 99 fire alarm boxes, 5 radios, within 26 square miles of territory.
• 1955 Chief Bill Rocheleau.
• 1956 Five missing and feared dead at 111 Austin St. Andrews fire.
• Jan. 1, 1957 Mayor Currier appoints Bill Rocheleau as chief.
• June 7, 1957 Over 250 acres of timber burned on Rocky Hill.
• July 18, 1957 Spectacular blaze at 100 Main St., Townsend’s Garage.
• July 25, 1957 Westbrook Fire gets first breathing apparatus.
• March 23, 1958 Fire destroys Brown Street School; 11-year-old admits setting the fire.
• 1958 Eagles Club burns.
• Aug. 22, 1958 Blanchette farm burns on County Road
• 1959 The yearly salary of fire chief now $1,000; engineers $500.
• 1959 Fire Committee seeks to hire full-time chief.
• 1960 Charles Knowles appointed fire chief for next four years.
• May 1, 1960 Frank Foster, Eng. No. 3, retires after 26 years of service.
• Jan. 6, 1961 Ex-Chief Bill Rocheleau dies.
• Feb. 7, 1961 New fire alarm communication center at Cumberland Mills Station costs $9,500; new dispatchers David Ferris and Lester Locke paid $75 per week to work 24 hours on and 24 hours off.
• Nov. 5, 1962 Mayor names Robert Handlon as chief.
• Oct. 15, 1963 Full-time firemen vote in IAFF Local 1486.
• April 12, 1963 Byron Rogers Sr. retires from with 37 years service.
• Jan 1, 1964 Mayor appoints Wilfred Rosenblad chief; R. James and Don Leighton wngineers.
• Feb. 1 1964 Full-time firemen work 82 hours per week.
• March 3 1964 Fire claims life of man at 76 Harrisburg Ave.
• 1964 Engine No. 1 American LaFrance wrecked at Woodfords Corner in Portland.
• Jan. 5 1965 Dr. Byther home burns; babysitter saves four children.
• March 15, 1965 Merton Estes retires from L-1 after 32 years of service.
• March 16, 1965 Man dies in fire and explosion at S.D.Warren.
• April 3, 1965 Elderly woman dies in fire at 72 Church St.
• April 14, 1965 Porello’s Restaurant destroyed by fire.
• July 7, 1965 New American LaFrance Pumper for E-2 costs $32,000.
• July 5, 1966 First annual Jimmy Fund Softball Game; Fire wins over Police 13 to 11.
• Sept. 6, 1966 New fire station dedicated 768 Bridgton Road, Engine No, 3.
• March 6, 1966 Bob Young hit by car, in serious condition.
• Oct. 3, 1966 Full-time firemen now earn $76 per week working 84 hours average.
• April 9, 1968 Wilfred Rosenblad named first full-time fire chief $7,000 per year.
• Nov. 15, 1968 Bob Young is the new fire inspector.
• Oct. 17, 1968 E. Dolley retires after 22 years L-1.
• Oct. 1, 1969 Fire destroys Chez Plaza on lower Main St.
• 1969 Westbrook Rescue organized; became part of fire department in 1986.
• Feb. 9, 1970 Blue Rock fire destroys 11 cement mixer trucks, $400,000 in damages.
• 1972 Full0time firefighter starting pay for 56 hour week is $118.72.
• 1973 Fire destroys Paddock Restaurant in Prides Corner.
• 1973 New Fire Chief James F Rulman.
• 1974 Deputy Chief Byron Rogers appointed.
• 1974 Westbrook goes to 40inch supply hose.
• 1974 First lime-yellow fire truck.
• May 30, 1974 Westbrook Fire Department sponsors Explorer Post No. 50.
• 1974 Deputy Chief John Estes retires.
• May 27,1975 Urban renewal is letting the fire department burn some buildings for training.
• 1975 New 1974 Mack Thibault 100-foot ladder truck.
• 1976 Deputy Chief Gerard Pellerin appointed.
• 1976 Engine No. 3 destroyed on Bridgton Road.
• Jan. 5, 1977 Open House at new Mechanic Street Station No. 2.
• May 1, 1977 Double fatal fire (Polley fire) at 150 Rochester St.
• May 15, 1977 Fire burns 196 acres between Spring and County roads.
• 1978 First full-time captains appointed (4).
• Jan. 8, 1978 Men’s Shop fire, three alarms.
• 1978 Fire goes to two alarms in vacant Maxwell Farm, 214 Main St.
• 1978 First monitor pager radios assigned to call company captains.
• 1981 Full time firefighters go to Teamsters Union Local 48.
• Dec. 31, 1981 Huge fire at Knowlton Machine Shop.
• Jan. 19, 1983 Fruitland destroyed by fire.
• 1984 Full-time firefighter entry pay is $257.97 for a 42-hour work week.
• 1985 Agway destroyed by huge fire.
• 1986 Rescue and Fire Department combined.
• 1990 First Female Firefighter (Kathy Reynolds).
• 1990 Westbrook Fire Celebrates 100 years of service.
•1992 Mayor Fred Westcott announces the appointment of Deputy Fire Chief Gary Caron.
• Nov. 8, 1993 Full Gospel Church Fire 565 Main St.
• 1994 Fire Police organized; Fire Police Capt Bruce Post and seven members.
• 1994 Full-time entry-level firefighter earns $382.91 for a work week of 42 hours.
• 1994 Mayor Kenneth Lefebvre appoints Capt. Clyde Chapman fire inspector.
• Oct. 16, 1994 Fire in barn 163 Saco St.
Oct. 20-22, 1994 Record flooding in Westbrook. Many roads and bridges washed away.
• April 5, 1999 Chief Gary Littlefield hired; served until April , 2009.
• 1999 Capt. Chapman retires after serving 33 years full time and 15 years Engine No. 2 on call.
• Sept. 1, 2001 Formation of Engine 4, staffed with a crew of three.
• Sept. 10, 2001 FF/Paramedic Chris Shepard hired as first day firefighter.
• 2002 Tim Pellerin hired as deputy chief.
• 2004 Purchase of Engine 4.
• 2005 New Public Safety Building opens and the purchase of Squad 1.
• July 9, 2006 Four full-time paramedics hired for Rescue
• July 1, 2007 Four full-time lieutenants created and hired
• 2009 Dan Brock hired as fire chief
• 2010 Brock replaced as fire chief on interim basis by Police Chief William Baker until Michael Pardue hired. Sandra Hillsgrove hired as a consultant to assist Pardue.
• 2011 Michael Pardue named fire chief. Capt, Wayne Jones promoted to deputy chief.
• 2013 Henry “Hank” Hamblen dies from cancer.
• 2014 Deputy Wayne Jones retires. Andrew Turcotte hired as his replacement. Pardue retires and Turcotte named interim fire chief.
• 2015 Turcotte named permanent chief. New Engine 3 at Prides Corner Station. Eight new firefighter/paramedics hired. Lucas Joslin is the 125th full-time member hired by the department and wears badge No. 125.
– Clyde Chapman and Andrew Turcotte
Presumpscot Hose Company No. 1 at their Cumberland Mills Station
The first motorized fire truck in Prides Corner in 1926 was a Lincoln touring car.
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