Scott Doyle named New Gloucester firefighter of the year a second time.
NEW GLOUCESTER – Firefighter Scott Doyle makes the rounds at elementary schools, teaching youngsters about fire prevention and safety.
He leads a bicycle safety class and an outreach program for senior citizens. Doyle, 25, also volunteers for community causes, such as coordinating Community Day activities and leading fundraising efforts to help a fellow firefighter with cystic fibrosis.
“It has a lot to do with the people in town,” Doyle said. “They motivate me. The citizens and businesses show me their support and I’m on a roll.”
That dedication has earned him the title of New Gloucester Firefighter of the Year, for the second time in three years. He also received the award in 2002.
Support from the community is 90 percent of his motivation, but his zeal for community service goes back to his sister’s death nearly nine years ago.
“I find myself filling something that was lost,” he said.
Doyle was a junior firefighter in New Gloucester when his sister Danyelle died in an accident.
“That has given me a lot of responsibility that motivates me and makes the bad feelings better,” he said. “The community support is the price for her death.”
When Doyle is not volunteering and attending committee meetings or classroom activities, he’s in charge of direct sales and marketing for New England, Florida and the West Coast for Captain Eli sodas sold by Shipyard Brewing.
Another award
To coincide with the Firefighter of the Year award, Doyle received the Firemark Award from Sandra Carlson, a sales representative for Liberty Mutual Group in Lewiston.
That award honors firefighters who show community or heroic acts, Carlson said.
Doyle’s efforts to reach out and educate his community on fire safety and prevention, security and identity theft will be further enhanced by the materials that Liberty Mutual promises to provide to sustain the partnership.
The materials made their way into the classroom this week at Dunn Elementary School where Doyle will taught students in two classrooms.
He also assists in organizing drug and alcohol awareness week, reaching students before prom night in the spring.
As the town’s fire safety officer, Doyle makes the rounds at Memorial School, Dunn School and Eastgate Christian Academy teaching youngsters throughout the year about fire prevention and safety.
He’s also the campaign manager for “Lungs for George,” an effort to raise $300,000 for New Gloucester firefighter George Carman, who has cystic fibrosis and needs a double lung transplant.
“Giving is a way to heal,” Doyle said “It feels good knowing it means one person can help others feel good.”
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