Portage Fire Chief David Bolstridge is pretty proud, to say the least, of the new addition to the Portage Lake Municipal Fire Department.
Just prior to Christmas, a 2008, 430 horse-powered Sterling chassis, Allison auto transmission, fire engine was delivered to the deserving fire department. This impressive machine was built in Centerville, New Brunswick by Metal Fab. Fire Apparatus. The New England dealers for the company, Tom and Patrick York of K&T Fire Equipment, were on hand Saturday, Dec. 22 to train Portage Fire Department personnel and volunteers on their new piece of equipment. The truck boasts many amenities, some of which are: a class “A” – 3,000 gallon pumper tanker with a 10-inch dump valve in the rear, an all aluminum body with a lifetime warranty poly tank, LED emergency lights, and convenient roll-up doors on the sides where fire apparatus is stored.
Since the town of Portage does not have pressurized hydrants, the new engine, coupled with an existing 1983 model tanker, will give the fire department three times the water storage capacity, enabling them to better meet the town’s emergency needs. The new tanker also makes it possible for the department to retire its 1973-year model fire truck, which has outlived its usefulness.
Currently the Portage Lake Fire Department has 10 adult and two junior volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter for the town of Portage and its surrounding communities, please contact Chief David Bolstridge at 435-6390.
Ongoing Events
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens group meets every Thursday at noon at the Ashland Rec. Center. Any senior citizens wishing to participate in the potluck lunches and meetings are always welcome.
The Portage Lake Seniors’ Lunch is held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m. at the Town Hall. All seniors are invited to attend and can bring a potluck dish to share or give a cash donation. For more information, contact Wilza Robertson at 435-6211 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
The Red Hat Loonies of Portage Lake meet the second Thursday of every month at Dean’s Motor Lodge. Membership dues are $2. Come and have a great meal and a great time, too! For more information, contact Rachel Stevens at 435-6358.
If you can help plan for Portage Lake’s Centennial Celebration, please contact Barb Pitcairn at 435-2368 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
Ladies, are you interested in crafts or have some that you’ve started and just can’t seem to finish? If so, take yourself over to the Portage Lake Municipal Building for Girlz Night every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy the company and the satisfaction of finally completing a project!
(Julie Graham-Berry is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-7137).
Photo courtesy of Julie Graham-Berry
THE PORTAGE LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT recently received a new fire truck. Just prior to Christmas, a 2008, 430 horse-powered Sterling chassis, Allison auto transmission, fire engine was delivered to the deserving fire department. The truck boasts many amenities, some of which include a class “A” – 3,000 gallon pumper tanker with a 10-inch dump valve in the rear, an all aluminum body with a lifetime warranty poly tank, LED emergency lights, and convenient roll-up doors on the sides where fire apparatus is stored. Everyone at the department is excited about the new vehicle.
