Yes, a resident viewing our page early this morning for the first time said that they had heard that Chief Meehan and EMT/Firefighter Rudnicki had a Lebanon Fire Truck in Ogunquit yesterday.
They actually asked me if they'd gone to the coastal town for lunch together.
Well, I actually saw Dan an Windy sharing a burrito for lunch today. I noted that they had cheese and lettuce on their burrito and that they must be being cheap on the wallet, cause they split it, each eating half. I also want to note that they were NOT in Lebanon EMS1, but their personal vehicle, just in case that comes into question.
But anyway, I stopped and spoke with them and asked them if they'd been in Ogunquit, ME with one of our Fire Trucks yesterday.
"Yup," said the Chief, "We sure were!"
The Chief went on to say that Windy was just finishing up her training as an Interior Firefighter and there was a "burn" yesterday in Ogunquit.
"Every Fire Department with Firefighters training with the course is supposed to send some type of equipment with their Firefighters in Training," added Meehan. "Windy's been through over 4 months of training, every Saturday, and Lebanon had yet to send a piece of equipment."
The Chief went on to explain that he took Engine 5 with them over to Ogunquit yesterday. A little old and outdated compared to the "Smart trucks" and brand new engines that some departments send with their new Firefighters each and every week, however, Dan noted that the small 2,500 gallon tanker was a great piece of equipment for the brand new Firefighters to learn with. It's more of a support vehicle, used to run back and forth from a water source to replenish the tanks of the larger, more powerful tankers, or as a go-between truck, adding extra water pressure to a line when the burning structure is too far from a hydrant. "And they've asked us to bring it next week too," he said, noting that next week's class is in North Berwick, and that he does plan to attend with Engine 5.
These classes benefit everyone in all the local towns. Since we are a part of a Mutual Aid group, any Firefighter may be asked to jump in and help on any engine like Lebanon Engine 5 during an active fire event. "It's great we get exposure to all the different kinds of trucks out there," said Rudnicki, who went on to tell of the "burn structure" over in Ogunquit, a large concrete building that is packed with wood and set on fire to aid new Firefighters in their training. "There are trucks stationed at various places around the burn structure and we all have a chance to learn on them," she added.
EMT / Firefighter Rudnicki graduates from the course June 18, 2015 after almost 6 months of classes held every Saturday, (with a few exceptions due to weather or holidays). She will now be certified as an Interior Firefighter, giving her the education needed to enter into burning buildings, identify fires inside walls or crawl spaces, and do what needs to be done to get the fire under control and out.
Firefighter Windy Rudnicki
Photo courtesy of Lebanon Fire and EMS, 2015
