Community counts in fire response

PARIS — Monday’s meeting of the Paris selectboard began and ended with thanks or local firefighters, who battled valiantly for four days against a raging blaze at the NEPW Logistics warehouse on Pine Street.

However, firefighters were quick to deflect that gratitude, pointing instead to the community reaction that helped make their work possible.

It wasn’t just local folks who turned out.  Firefighter spouses from as far away as Rumford and Farmington manned the firehouse kitchen alongside regular auxiliary members and planning board chairman Russ Case, turning out meals for hungry firefighters.

No complaints were heard from businesses shut down during the first day of the fire, when firefighters worked off Main Street hydrants, before switching over to draw water from the Little Androscoggin River.

Instead, many carted food over to the fire scene, including Maurice’s, Yanni’s House of Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts and many others. 

“McDonald’s sent over just boxes and boxes of hamburgers,” said Deputy Chief John Longley.

Despite the halt in traffic, the Big Apple station at the corner of Main and Pine Streets acted as a warming station for firefighters.

“Basically, they kept the doors open just for us,” said Paris firefighter Darrell Rugg.

On top of that, workers from Elements Day Spa offered massages to weary firefighters, some of whom worked 20 hours without a break while Oxford sent over fresh socks to warm feet forced to trudge through water that ran to the knees at some parts of the NEPW warehouse, as crews dumped in water for days on end.

Oxford Hills Middle School, closed for two days by the fire, offered up its space as a command post, media center and bunkhouse.

And, with the operation necessarily running into the wee hours, the Oxford Hannaford opened its doors after hours to the fire service, as needed.

But perhaps most important at all, according to Paris Fire Chief Brad Frost, were the nameless folks who stepped in to lend a hand.  Just ordinary people off the street who brought coffee, passed out bottles of water, lent modal support, or simply held their tongues during a frustrating few days.

“I’ve really got to thank everyone, and I mean everyone in this community for their support,” said Frost.  “We really appreciate it.  I mean, I know, we had Market Square pretty well bunged up [with fire hoses and blocked traffic] for quite a while.”

“The thing is, we’ll never be able to thank everybody,” said Longley, “and even when we try, we knows that, unfortunately, we’ll miss someone.”

“There are some people who chipped in that, really, we’ll never know who they were,” said Rugg.

Frost agreed.  Having been so focused on command during the long ordeal, he said he was still learning of different ways people helped out.

“Frankly, I still don’t know about a lot of what went on, as far as the community kicking in,” said Frost, added, however, that he was glad for the support since it allowed him to concentrate on the work at hand.

Drew Gilman, who owns the NEPW warehouse, said Tuesday that he’s thrilled with both Frost’s on-scene leadership and the behind-the-scenes support of the community.

“It was just phenomenal on all angles,” he said.  “From the fire department, to the rescue workers, the auxiliary members, the Chamber of Commerce, the local businesses and even regular citizens, the public support was just incredible.

“We can’t say enough in terms of the help people in this  community have offered us, and are still offering us days after the fire was put out,” said Gilman.  “It’s very humbling.”

“What happened here has really restored my faith in people,” agreed Longley.  “I’m really very proud of my town.”