Mars Hill Fire Department rises to the occasion

Mars Hill Fire Department rises to the occasion

To the editor:
    I feel compelled to address an Aug. 8 letter to the editor printed in this newspaper. The letter was written by Terry McEntee of Presque Isle and shed a negative light on the Mars Hill Fire Department. Mr. McEntee was offering his opinions and some incorrect facts regarding a truck fire which occurred in Mars Hill on July 24th.

    First and foremost Mr. McEntee is quoted as saying, “This truck burned for almost one-half hour before firemen got to the scene to extinguish the blaze.” This is absolutely false and totally based on one person’s perception of time not based on any factual information. The 9-1-1 call was received at 10:42 a.m. on July 24th and the Mars Hill Fire Department was on the scene at 10:48 a.m. This is a response time of 6 minutes!
    In fairness to Mr. McEntee, time has a way of seeming longer when a person is witness to an emergency but his perception and reality are light years apart regarding the response time. I am very comfortable stating that the Mars Hill Fire Department response time is outstanding.
    The negative shadow cast on the Mars Hill Fire Department is compounded when Mr. McEntee states, “I hope businesses have really good fire insurance, because in the event of a fire saving anything is pretty slim.” This is disheartening to me and beyond disrespectful to the outstanding volunteer firefighters in Mars Hill. The Fire Department in Mars Hill is comprised of some of the most dedicated individuals I have ever had the pleasure to work with. The chief in Mars Hill does an outstanding job and the town is very proud of this department. I think Mr. McEntee owes Chief Wilson and the entire department a sincere apology!
    I understand the political issues that Presque Isle is facing regarding their fire department and realize that the city is facing some difficult decisions. I would sincerely appreciate the Town of Mars Hill being left out of these discussions especially when the argument is based on falsehoods and opinion.
    As a town we work very hard to ensure that our fire department has adequate training, modern equipment, and the leadership to run a top notch department, we feel that what we have works well and meets the needs of our community.
    Chief Wilson and his department have received countless praise from within our community and from organizations outside of town. I am very confident that despite an editorial of this nature our outstanding fire department will continue to perform well above expectations.