Chester upset by firefighting costs

CHESTER – Residents of this tiny town aren’t too happy about paying $95,000 to cover the costs of a fire that burned in a huge sawdust and debris pile for several days at the Walpole Manufacturing Co. this summer.

Many of the more than 20 residents who gathered for Wednesday’s special town meeting said they recognized the town was responsible for providing fire protection to all of its residents, but said the cost of fighting fires at the sawmill was “ridiculous.”

Some said firefighting costs at the sawmill this year alone represented nearly half of the municipal budget, which is more than $257,000.

This tiny town of about 600 people has no fire department. It contracts with the town of Lincoln for fire protection. It took about 150 firefighters from Lincoln, Howland, Lee, Mattawamkeag, East Millinocket and an Orono hot shot team about eight hours to bring the sawdust pile fire under control. Homes near the sawmill were evacuated. Firefighters worked at the scene for days and were called back to put out flare-ups.

The total bill from the various departments totaled $94,027. Charges are: $41,425.36 from Lincoln, $22,507.14 from Lee, $12,360.50 from Mattawamkeag, $3,621 from East Millinocket, $13,170 from Howland and $943.38 from the Orono hot shot team.

While residents commended the efforts of the fire departments, they were quick to point out that the company needed to clean up its act. Several residents said the July fire was not the only one at Walpole Manufacturing this year. Some said the company had poor management.

“That place is a disaster area,” said Wayne Kimball of the sawdust and debris piles that were left around the sawmill complex. He said the company pays about $5,500 a year in taxes and at that rate it would take the town years to recoup the cost of the July fire.

“The town is responsible to pay these bills, but if they [the company] don’t do something, they will put us [the town] out of business. We can’t keep paying this,” he said.

Pastor Wayne Perry, a resident, asked if the town could do something to address safety issues at the mill. He asked whether the company planned to make changes at the mill. “We can’t continue to put out fires at $95,000 a pop,” he said.

No company officials attended the special meeting. First Selectman Temple Ireland said selectmen had met with some of the company’s owners to discuss a number of issues including residents’ concerns. Selectmen asked the company to pay 50 percent of the costs but got no firm commitment from the company that they would do so. He said owners had assured him efforts were under way to address a number of issues.

Harvey Jordan, a resident, said the sawmill had operated for years without any fires until management changed a few years ago. “Since the new management, they have had one fire after another and the place has got dirtier and dirtier,” he said.

Several residents agreed, saying electric motors were often covered with sawdust, piles of debris had not been cleaned up and often the company pushed debris over the bank into the river. One man said he did not understand why the company workers didn’t take 15 minutes or a half-hour before closing to clean up around the mill like other mills do.

“I hate to see anyone lose their job,” said Shane Kimball. “But, if it comes to my parents house burning down with them in it, it’s not worth the loss of life,” he said.

Other residents expressed concerns about employees squealing their tires on their way to and from the mill.

Residents, who live next to the mill, expressed concern about their families’ safety. Other residents said the July fire may have been prevented if workers had called the fire department instead of trying to put the fire out themselves.

Ireland said company owners told him changes were being made at the mill and if managers did not do their jobs they would be replaced. He said the company had made some strides. He said the sawdust was not as bad as it was and the company has dug a water pond for fire protection.

Some residents said they did not want to put the company out of business, but said the company was not worth the loss of even one life.

Residents asked how the town would pay the bills totaling nearly $95,000 and asked how it would affect the new tax rate. Ireland said the town has some surplus funds along with about $50,000 in unpaid taxes. He said Lincoln would give the town more time to make payments and said he believed other towns would do the same. Selectmen said they were not sure how the additional fire costs will affect the new tax rate, which has yet to be set. Selectman Roscoe Tash Sr. estimated the tax rate could increase by at least $1. The current tax rate is $9.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Although residents voted to pay the $95,000 in bills for the July fire at the sawmill, they also directed selectmen to bill the company for the costs. Residents also directed the town’s fire warden to make at least four surprise visits a month to the mill and present a report to residents during the annual town meeting about the company’s compliance.