01/23/2019

Re: Professionalism of Thorndike Fire Department

To the Select Board and Residents of Thorndike,

We are reaching out in regards to several concerns that Emergency Service Agencies within Waldo
County have regarding the Thorndike Fire Department. Those agencies consist of the Waldo County Fire
Chiefs Association, Waldo County Fire?ghters Association, Waldo County EMA, and the Waldo County
Regional Communication Center.

Over the past few yea rs each of these agencies have witnessed a lack of professionalism with the former
Fire Chief, now Deputy Chief George Russell. We understand that the current Thorndike Fire Chief is only
there as a ?gurehead based on George?s legal issues. Our concerns lie within his lack of training and
leadership skills-to the point where we are concerned for the safety of both. your Fire?ghters and the
Mutual Aid Fire?ghters that could fall under his leadership. We also understand from your mutual aid
partners that they are looking to end their current agreements with your town due to these concerns.

Over the past year we witnessed an incident in Thorndike where ?re trucks-were out of service and the
mutual aid towns for Thorndike were not made aware of this until a major ?re broke out near your
station. This caused a delay in suppression efforts until the next mutual aid town arrived on scene. The
lack of communication from Thorndike Fire Department is not acceptable. Based on your contract
agreement with the town of Knox and the funds received for providing ?re protection, this is an
unacceptable practice to not make the other towns involved in the contract aware of any service issues
with apparatus that would prevent responding to their town.

We were also involved with a ?re cell where ?re?ghter?s lives were unnecessarily put in danger due to
non-working equipment and lack of training. Fire?ghters entered a house ?re with an attack line only to
find out that it did not work properly and the Pump Operator was not quali?ed to run a new truck to
your ?eet.

We have also taken many complaints from the Waldo County Regional Commination Center in reference
to the use of the radios during these incidents and how out of control they get. This has resulted in the
delay of mutual aid responding because they are unable to use the radio frequency.

All of these agencies have offered their assistance with training classes and as mentors with no success.
We will no longer turn a blind to this situation and will not put our members at risk under George?s
leadership. We have tried to support Seth in his efforts to turn this around but cannot support George
due to his criminal history and lack of leadership. Please understand this is not intended to be a threat
but a warning to help prevent injury, or worse, death of anyone due to a careless or inexperienced
decision.

We have also recently heard that there is a change in leadership with your department. This is once
againa change to the Chiefs position with no change to the 2"d in command. We are quite surprised to
see a young ?re?ghter with a few years on other services recently receive a promotion to the rank of
Captain- This only emphasizes the lack of true leadership and experience that could lead to an accident.

 

 

in 2018 the Waldo County Fire?ghter Associations training committee received registrations from
Thorndike Fire School for 4 ?re?ghters to take our Basic Fire School. The cost per student is $250.00 for
this interior ?re?ghting training with 16 other students registered from around the county. In good faith
we furnished this training to each student and upon completion of the class in May we sent their
certi?cates along with a bill for the $1000.00 to Thorndike. At this point the association has still not
received payment.

in closing we would like to reiterate that we are here to assist in the improvement of all emergency
agencies within Waldo County including Thorndike. We also support your decision to not reappoint
George as Chief. Unfortunately this has not resulted in him stepping down and doing the honorable
thing. We owe it to the residents of Thorndike and mutual aid towns to have trained and trustworthy
?rst responders assisting them in their time of need.

it is important for you to understand the impact that this is having on Waldo County.
Respectfully,

Waldo County Fire?ghters Association - President Ken Clements

Waldo County Fire Chiefs Association - President Bill Gillespie

Waldo County EMA Director Dale Rowley

Waldo County Communications Center Director Owen Smith