I’m the wife of a firefighter and I write this letter about the recent Cowan Mill fire and the firefighters from Lewiston and other responding towns.

My husband, a Lewiston firefighter for 24 years, knew what to expect
when he took his oath to serve and protect. He is a firefighter,
24/7, responding anytime on his 24-hour shifts, or paged for second or
third-alarm blazes, 365 days a year. He was home on the afternoon of the
Cowan fire but responded to one of the biggest fires in Lewiston’s history.

I was on my computer, clicking between the Sun Journal Web site, local news station video footage, and checking Facebook for uploaded pictures from people at the fire.

Using Facebook was a great way for me to communicate with other firefighter wives and friends watching the fire. Many people posted thankful messages of appreciation for firefighters. I am very proud of my husband and all his firefighting friends who put
their lives on the line protecting property and people they don’t even
know. That is the job they love.

Yes, they are brave and we are always thankful for their safety, but they are not the only ones deserving recognition. Red Cross volunteers provided water, food and coffee. Other local businesses also contributed food or other services. I wanted people to know about the generosity of others in the community who supported our brave heroes.

I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.

Bridget Cailler, Litchfield