FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Customs and Border Protection wants to work with Fort Fairfield Fire Rescue to put the federal agency’s emergency medical services training into practice in the community.
The Fort Fairfield Town Council on Wednesday approved a memorandum of understanding with the agency, which would allow customs agents with medical training to work with local emergency responders.
The plan would not only give the department extra hands, but also indicates Customs and Border Protection representatives have faith in the local crew’s expertise, Fire Chief Michael Jalbert said.
“It will help strengthen our ties with this federal agency that’s right on our doorstep,” he said. “This memorandum of understanding shows the professionalism of our crew, [that] they have confidence in our department.”
Staff at the Fort Fairfield Port of Entry station approached Jalbert with the idea. Border Protection has a team trained in emergency medical response and was seeking a way to have them gain experience on actual calls, he said.
The technicians would work with local crews, giving them exposure to real-life situations while increasing Fort Fairfield Fire Rescue’s capabilities, Jalbert said.
“It’s a win-win for our community, our EMS and the Border Patrol,” Town Manager Tim Goff said. “It will also strengthen bonds between EMS personnel.”
Councilors voted to authorize Town Manager Tim Goff to sign the memorandum of understanding with Customs and Border Protection.
Under the agency’s emergency medical program, Border Patrol agents who are emergency medical technicians or paramedics handle medical or rescue situations at borders.
Enhanced during the pandemic, a Customs and Border protection initiative requires the agency to train 100 individuals as emergency medical technicians from its field operations’ workforce each year, according to the agency’s Frontline magazine.
Part of the implementation plan includes collaborating with local medical support neworks.
Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In other fire department news, Jalbert also reported call volume is up. So far in December there have been 38 emergency medical services calls and 15 fire calls. Last year, all of December saw those same numbers.
For the year, the department has received 603 EMS and 115 fire calls, he said.
In other business, the council formally approved an ordinance to prohibit marijuana businesses in town. Councilors introduced the ordinance in November after voting against an ordinance to allow medical and adult-use marijuana businesses.
Councilor James Ouellette reported several residents have commented favorably on the town’s holiday decor. Ouellette thanked downtown merchants and the town’s Quality of Place Council for their decorating work.
Ouellette also thanked Fort Fairfield Police Chief Matthew Cummings, Fire Chief Jalbert and others who organized the town’s Dec. 9 light parade and festivities. Councilors reported a large turnout at the gathering following the parade, which featured refreshments and visits with Santa.
Goff said election expenses rose because more ballots had to be printed to accommodate the unusually large voter turnout.
The town manager also recognized Robert Kilcollins, who was absent due to illness. Wednesday would have been Kilcollins’ last meeting, as newly elected councilor Shane McGillan will take office next month.
Kilcollins served for nine years, from 2014 to 2016 and again from 2018 until the present. He will be publicly recognized at the next meeting, Goff said.
The next meeting is slated at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
