PERU - For the first time he can remember, Fire Chief Bill Hussey was speechless last week when his name was read as the fire chief of the year by the Maine Fire Chiefs Association.

"I was sitting in the group and noticed some fire chiefs I didn't recognize. I didn't think I heard my name called," he said. "I did not expect it; I didn't have a clue, and I usually know everything that is going on. They pulled a good one on me."

Town officials, his family and his fellow firefighters knew he was going to receive the award for at least a week before the Oct. 3 event, but no one let on.

When his name was called, by neighboring Rumford Fire Chief John Woulfe, who was completing his term as president of the association, Hussey's family, brother, sister and granddaughter all seemed to appear from nowhere.

"My granddaughter, Meredith, walked through the door first with a bouquet of roses and said, 'Papa.' I held onto her as a crutch," he said of the 20-month-old.

Hussey, 59, was nominated by Peru selectmen. The nomination was supported by about a half-dozen letters from townspeople who wanted to honor their longtime chief.

Town Clerk Vera Parent was in charge of compiling documentation for the nomination.

"I'm thrilled that he got it. It's well-deserved and it's about time," she said.

Hussey has been with the Peru Fire Department for 30 years, the past 21 as chief.

Before that, as a teenager in Frankfort, he got firefighting in his blood from his father, Lawrence, who helped reorganize the department in that small coastal town.

A few years later, Hussey became fire chief of Winterport where he helped establish a volunteer ambulance service. Then, in the 1970s, he moved to Peru.

Selectman Vice Chairman Jim Pulsifer attended the award ceremony.

"Bill does good for us. He's got a lot of equipment for us, but his strongest point is his ability to bring people together for the town. He has been outstanding," Pulsifer said.

Woulfe said Hussey extended his hand in friendship when Woulfe first came to Rumford eight years ago.

"He was one of the first chiefs to familiarize me with the area. He helped me when I got here. It's very appropriate for him to get the award," Woulfe said.

Hussey said the award speaks well for all-volunteer fire departments. The 20 volunteers in the Peru are not paid, and receive only mileage money. And he receives a $2,000 stipend for an average of 20 to 30 hours a month he devotes to department business.

"Over the years, we've done a lot. We're a progressive Fire Department," he said. "We work well with other fire departments."

Hussey also is involved with the state's emergency management team, Hazmat, and with the emergency team at NewPage Corp. where he is employed.

"Thursday afternoon when I came home, I sat on our dock and counted my blessings. They are a good bunch of firefighters, and the town backs us up. I couldn't have done it without my family and fellow firefighters," he said.

Being a firefighter brings Hussey enormous satisfaction.

"I enjoy helping people, to know that I've helped someone. Most firefighters feel that way," he said.

Hussey joins the ranks of 15 others who have been honored over the years as Maine's fire chief of year, including Robert McCleery, now deceased, who was chief in Farmington, Robert Butters of Norway, Clifton Smith of Auburn, and Michel Lajoie of Lewiston.