Mattawamkeag firefighter takes leave of absence

MATTAWAMKEAG – The recent resignation of the fire-rescue squad’s three chiefs has led the group’s highest-trained firefighter to take a leave of absence until a new chief is hired.

Firefighter Don Wilson told Selectman Rodney Gagnon of his decision Wednesday. Until his leave, Wilson was the only remaining member with Firefighter II training, which involves in-depth interior fire training.

He said Thursday that he didn’t want the added responsibility of serving as fill-in management.

“I’m leery of liability issues if something were to happen to one of the members at a fire scene,” Wilson said. “There’s not enough people left there to say, in good conscience, that we can sufficiently attack a fire.”

Wilson’s departure brings the squad members down to nine, according to Betty Jipson, who is serving as the group’s interim administrator until a new chief is hired. Six months ago, there were 28 people on the squad, Jipson said recently. Although Wilson plans to return, the recent decrease in manpower has led the town to seek aid from nearby areas, Jipson said.

“We’re going to do our best with what qualifications we’ve got, but we’re still going to rely on mutual aid with Lincoln, Medway and Kingman,” Jipson said Thursday.

In addition to Mattawamkeag, the fire-rescue squad serves Winn and Molunkus Township. With that sizeable area, the squad is going to need to recruit more people if it’s going to be an effective firefighting unit, Wilson said.

“Manpower is going to be an issue,” Wilson said. “Eventually, the mutual aid towns are going to get tired of coming here. If those towns pulled their support, we’d be done.”

Wilson added that his reasons for the leave of absence weren’t connected to those given by the others who recently resigned. Former Fire Chief Frank Hammond resigned Oct. 6 to spend more time with his children. Assistant Chief Hans Miller and Rescue Chief John Heald both resigned Oct. 20 because of issues related to management of the squad by town officials.