Farmington Falls Fire Company still meeting needs of the community

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Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Junior Turner, Sonny Decker and Bob Gramlich wrap silverware as the Farmington Falls Fire Co. and community members prepare a benefit supper Friday for local resident Linda Mason.

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Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Joe Duguay cut pies and desserts brought in by local residents as the Farmington Falls Fire Co. and community members prepare for a benefit supper Friday for local resident Linda Mason.

FARMINGTON — They may no longer fight fires but that doesn't mean the Farmington Falls Fire Co. doesn't still respond to the needs of the community.

When the fire department merged with Farmington Fire and Rescue, some members continued meeting monthly, keeping their focus on what's going on and who in the Falls and Chesterville side of the river might need help, said member Junior Turner.

The eight members enlist other people in the community, he said, to help with their projects, such as the benefit supper they were preparing for Friday night.

A lifelong resident of Farmington Falls, Linda Mason, 56, is facing cancer that has spread to several organs. Growing up on the Mason Road as Linda Decker, she married her next-door sweetheart, Ronald. Both graduated from Mt. Blue High School and have two sons, Robin and Adam, he said.

"They are hard workers and now have a dairy farm on the Mason Road," he said. "We wanted to help them some."

A small crew, including Mason's brother, Sonny Decker, cleared the Falls fire station, now used for storage, to get things ready and set up tables Friday afternoon in preparation for the meal. Community members brought in desserts and casseroles to go along with the home-baked beans provided by Dottie Cook and rolls that Ruth Sawyer organized.

The Fire Co. solicited casseroles and pies. People from the community, including some from Union Baptist Church in Farmington Falls, came to help, he said.

The fire department became a fire company after the merger. Older members retired and younger people haven’t stepped up to become involved, he said, but that didn’t stop the eight current members from continuing their community activities.

A summer field day used to raise funds to support their work, but when there weren’t enough members to keep it going, the group changed to a yearly benefit auction. It provides funds for a Little League program, helps a Cape Cod Hill School student to go to summer camp and puts up Christmas lights in the settlement on the southerly end of Farmington, as well as providing for donations to various charities.

"We get together monthly and pay the bills and discuss community needs," Turner said. "We do as needs come up."

The local Boy Scout troop and water company meet at the fire station. The company also allows local residents to use the building for activities like wedding and anniversary receptions. With each activity, the building is cleared of stored fire department equipment.

abryant@sunjournal.com