Nick Sambides, Jr.
Bangor Daily News
The Civiello and Portwine families came together before the Town Council on Thursday with a message for the Fire Department: Thank you.
The families expressed appreciation for the professional way firefighters handled the fires that heavily damaged their homes on Dec. 12 and Dec. 15. In both cases, firefighters’ quick work stopped the flames before they could destroy the homes, and no one was injured.
“The fires occurred in the days just before Christmas, and the firemen did everything they could to protect the contents of our homes,” Michael Portwine said Thursday as he read a joint statement to councilors.
“They covered what could be covered, they moved items to the various rooms of the homes, and always kept in contact with us to let us know what was happening and what would be happening in the near future,” Portwine added. “Chief [Wayne] Campbell and Assistant Chief [Thomas] Malcolm, as well as the entire community, should be quite proud of their work force.”
Firefighters stopped the fire between the second and third floors at the Portwines’ three-story house at 55 Poplar St. on Dec. 12. Heavy smoke damage occurred on the third floor, while some heavy fire, smoke and water damage occurred on the second floor, but the house was salvageable and is now under renovation.
About 20 full-time and call firefighters rotated through a Fire Department ambulance to keep warm in zero-degree temperatures as they battled the fire at the Civiellos’ Connecticut Avenue residence Dec. 15. They could not save the garage where the fire began, but their quick response prevented serious damage to the house.
In both cases, firefighters’ knowledge and compassion were enormously comforting. Campbell took Robin Portwine through her home as the fire burned, helping her rescue her cats.
The families, who knew each other fairly well before the fires and remain in town while their homes are repaired, told councilors that the town should do everything it prudently can to support the Fire Department.
“I am a fiscal conservative,” John Civiello said, “but no one can be a fiscal conservative when their house is burning. No one can really understand what it’s like until they go through it themselves.”
Copyright 2008 Bangor Daily News