WEST PARIS – Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday to authorize Town Manager Donald Woodbury to ask the Oxford County Regional Communications Center to call out the Paris Fire Department when the West Paris department has an emergency.
West Paris lost Fire Chief Mike Akers when he moved to Bridgton this year, and a permanent replacement has not been named.
“I think this is a good idea and is something that needs to done now as our department has problems gathering a crew when needed,” Chairman Jim Johnston said of the move to get help from neighboring Paris.
“Right now our department has 16 members, but only two are available during the day shift,” Selectman Wayne Theofrastou said.
Woodbury said he and Selectman Bill Birney met recently with Paris Fire Chief Brad Frost and other Paris officials. Frost, he said, agreed to help interim Fire Chief Doug Penley and honor the town’s mutual aid agreement.
“Brad Frost has agreed to come up and review our fire department policies, training needs and member qualifications,” Woodbury said. “It was a good meeting, and he will help us decide what we need to consider for the future in order to strengthen our department in the best interest of the town.”
“We are looking for assistance in obtaining full protection for our town. This will help bring our records up to date and determine what we need to do in the future,” Birney added.
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