ORONO — An emotional Jennifer Nickels presented four plaques Wednesday night to fire officials who responded to a fire last December that killed three of her children.

The meeting at the Orono High School gymnasium attracted a crowd of residents concerned about fire protection.

“Many of you don’t know us by sight,” Nickels said before pausing to regain her composure. “But the name is still in many of your minds.”

In presenting the plaques — one each to the Orono Health Association, the fire department, the initial response team, and Fire Chief Duane Brasslett — Nickels said, “They all worked as a team that night and did the best job possible under the circumstances.”

The Dec. 20 fire at Nickels’ Grove Street home killed Michael, 16, Brian, 6, and Laurie, 4. A fourth child, David, 11, escaped, and accompanied his mother Wednesday night. The plaques were presented in their name, and one of them featured photographs of the three who died.

During the more than two months since the fire, the accident, apparently caused by water-soaked wiring, has been the subject of debate within the town, with many residents calling for additional manpower for the fire department.

Town Council Chairman Francis Martin announced Tuesday that town officials would consider hiring an independent firm to evaluate the need for personnel within the town.

Also at issue was the presentation of the plaques. Nickels had originally asked to present them during a council meeting. Her request was rejected by Martin.

He said he was not in favor of using the meeting as a forum for such action, especially in light of citations received by the fire department from the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration for alleged violations that occurred during the fire.

Except for members of the fire department, no town officials could be seen among the estimated 250 people who attended Wednesday’s first, and possibly last, meeting of the Orono Citizens for Improved Fire Protection.

Fire officials later explained the need for more manpower, which was echoed in a fact sheet passed out to those who attended.

“This is presented with my heartfelt thanks and my deepest appreciation for the heroic acts that were displayed on Dec. 20, 1989,” Nickels told the firefighters. “You went above and beyond the call of duty while putting your own lives and jobs on the line while attempting to save my children.”

The crowd then rose for the first of two standing ovations.

Addressing the recent concern over the issue, Nickels said that few questions had been answered about the incident. “Maybe some day the answers will be found. I think my son, David, has put it best: `Isn’t three dead enough?’ ”

After the meeting, Nickels told reporters she hoped the publicity would result in additional firefighters for the town, a move Nickels said she believes will save lives.

“I hope the firefighters get the men needed so that no one else has to die needlessly,” Nickels said. “No one else needs to die.That’s real important to me.”