WILTON — Bonds developed between firefighters brought a group of them together this weekend — not to fight a fire but to fix a roof for one of their own.

After Wilton’s Deputy Fire Chief Kendall Burdin realized earlier this year that his disease was terminal, he considered what needed to be done to the Union Street home he shared with his wife, Ann.

He told family members and Ann that a door, the chimney and the roof needed to be fixed in order for her to live there safely after he was gone, she said Saturday as she watched about 20 firefighters and family members strip the shingles, repair broken boards and install a metal roof.

The door and chimney were fixed but when firefighters heard about the needed roof repair, they stepped up to the plate.

Members from Wilton, Farmington, Livermore and Livermore Falls fire departments arrived early Saturday morning to start stripping the shingles, despite cold temperatures and occasional drops of rain and flecks of snow, she said. 

Working under the direction of contractor/firefighter Mark Chretien,  the men intended to fix the boards where a leak had developed, spread a layer to help prevent further leaks and apply a metal roof on Sunday, she said.

Her daughters and other family members were cooking up a storm in preparation to feed the crew that was there for her.

Her family is her main support but she knows she can call on members of the Wilton department where Kendall served for more than 40 years, she said, while expressing her appreciation for the group that had gathered.

“We’re chipping in together (to work on the roof),” said Wilton Fire Chief Sonny Dunham as he and Farmington Fire Chief Terry Bell worked on the pre-cut pieces of metal roofing.

Burdin served on the Strong, Phillips and Wilton fire departments. He was noted for his wisdom and experience with the department’s trucks and vehicles but the biggest loss to the department was his support, knowledge and skills fighting fires, said Deputy Chief Tom Doak at the time of Burdin’s death in August.

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