TURNER – A dispute between a Turner fireman and a Buckfield fireman at the scene of a recent fire resulted in injuries and endangerment, the Turner Board of Selectmen was told this week.

At a March 2 fire at the Bob Leavitt farm on Plains Road, that dispute ended when the Turner firefighter took the firetruck and left the scene, members of the Turner Fire Department reported to selectmen.

They said that the loss of water to the four men behind the burning building put them in danger, and two were injured. They said the two received minor burns.

“Two men were injured as a result of those hoses being shut down,” rescue unit member Charlie Mock said. “But the bigger issue is that two men could have been critically injured.”

Fire Chief Steve Fish, who works out of state during the week, was not at the scene of the Plains Road fire and another department member, Shane Arsenault, was in charge.

Arsenault relayed information through a Buckfield firefighter that a truck needed to be moved. It was moved and then he was told to move it again, which he did. At that point, driver Rodney Guptil took the firetruck back to the station. It was not clear whether the men behind the building had been told the water would be cut off while the truck was being moved.

“In 22 years of being a firefighter, I have never seen a man leave the scene,” Turner firefighter John Durgin told the board.

Discussion as to discipline and North Turner fire coverage during the day, if Guptil were suspended, lasted more than 30 minutes. The incident, although a personnel matter, was taken up in public session at Guptil’s request.

Guptil apologized for his behavior and took responsibility for it. He did not attempt to defend his actions nor did he make any excuses for them during the meeting.

“I don’t think he should be penalized for everything that happened,” Bob Leavitt said. “I’m not second-guessing anyone, but we need to think about coverage.”

Selectmen voted to give Fish the responsibility of deciding whether there would be any suspension, probation or other discipline for the incident.

Leavitt lost his barn and, as of Monday night, 53 cows with the possibility that others might die because of aftereffects, such as smoke inhalation. Although the house was saved, the smoke and water damage was so extensive, Leavitt said, that it is not habitable. The family is living across the street in a mobile home. They did have insurance.

A generous offer

In other business, the board gladly and unanimously accepted an offer for Turner to buy a used ambulance with 17,000 miles for less than $4,000 at the end of 2005.

The generous offer came through Mark Pojednic who, as a Bates College student, worked for hundreds of hours with Turner Rescue. The unit is currently in use in New Jersey, Pojednic said, adding that the sale is a way to help out rural areas.

Cable TV rates

The board will meet with other local officials at 7 p.m Tuesday, March 23, at the Greene Town Office to discuss a new cable television agreement. The meeting is open to the public and will be the only opportunity that residents have to discuss cable television service, rates and programming.