Firefighting

Abstract 1246 Althea (Mrs. Frank) Beard, interviewed by Joyce Butler, September 25, 1977, Kennebunkport, Maine. Beard talks about the fires of 1947 on Cape Porpoise; the sight and smell of smoke; scene from the top of Crow Hill; believing their summer home was destroyed; patrolling and trying to save their home; no water supply so they used buckets of ocean water; receiving sandwiches and coffee from the Salvation Army; fearing for their house again when a second fire was near; and houses being saved...

Abstract 1247 Arnold Stinson, interviewed by Joyce Butler, September 14, 1977, Cape Porpoise, Maine. Stinson, with comments from his wife, Kathleen (Anderson) Stinson, discusses the fires of 1947, when he was Cape Porpoise Fire Chief; how Timber Island caught on fire; a backfire that got out of control; path of the fire; what equipment they had; finding their furniture after the fire; Mrs. Stinson’s mother dying of a heart attack from all the work; and how the Kittredge family improved firefighting...

Abstract 1243 Arthur Roberts, interviewed by Joyce Butler, July 28, 1977, Saco, Maine. Roberts talks about the fires of 1947 in Lyman; his work putting out spot fires as a member of the volunteer fire department; evacuating his family; how the approaching fire looked; fire destroying a lumberyard; backfiring and a backfire that got out of control; improvements in firefighting that Roberts thinks would prevent a repeat of 1947; needing permission from the National Guard to travel freely in the fire...

Abstract 1242 Betty and Stanley Littlefield, interviewed by Joyce Butler, August 2, 1977, Alfred, Maine. The Littlefields discuss the fire of 1947 in the Alfred area; Betty’s efforts running a moving first aid station and handing out food to firefighters; Alfred threatened from multiple directions; Stanley’s perspective as superintendent of the Water District; fleeing the fire in South Waterboro; what Betty treated at her first aid station; Stanley’s confidence in the Alfred firefighters; desire to...

Abstract 1223 Carolyn (Mrs. Frank) Craig, interviewed by Joyce Butler, January 24, 1977, Cape Porpoise, Maine. Craig talks about the fires of 1947 in Cape Porpoise; dry conditions that fall; approach of the fire; packing their belongings with aid from strangers; near-destruction of her home; firefighting efforts; keeping little fires from consuming homes; publicity the area received; improvements in Cape Porpoise’s communication and firefighting equipment after the fires; and planting pine trees on...

Abstract 1229 Champ and Elizabeth Gould, interviewed by Joyce Butler, June 20, 1977, South Waterboro, Maine. The Goulds talk about the fires of 1947 in the Waterboro area; dry conditions that fall but lack of concern; initial response to the fire being curiosity; use of fuel trucks to carry water; options for dealing with livestock; saving their buildings; men who were unwilling to fight the fire; lack of organization; arsonists; burning of South Waterboro; resurgence of fire from underground; what...

Abstract

1239 Coyle Meserve, interviewed by Joyce Butler, July 16, 1977, Dayton, Maine. Meserve discusses the fires of 1947 in Dayton; progression of the fire; tally of lost buildings; burning of his family’s barn and home; use of cider to save a house; aid given by the Red Cross; salvaging timber after the fire; how the town was different after rebuilding; why the forest in 1947 burned so easily; and improvements in firefighting by 1977.

Abstract 1230 Dr. John W. Kelley, monologue for Joyce Butler, December 13, 1976, Ithaca, New York. Kelley talks about the fires of 1947; missing two weeks of high school to work as a volunteer firefighter; firefighting in the Waterford [likely Waterboro] area; description of a crown fire; driving through fire; spending the night in a muddy pond; trying to save cottages around Little Ossipee Lake; firefighting equipment; attitude to firefighting and what it taught him about accomplishing goals;...

Abstract 1236 Dr. Marion Moulton and Arthur Moulton, interviewed by Joyce Butler, June 22 – 23, 1977, Newfield, Maine. The Moultons discuss the fires of 1947; feeding the firefighters; people who gave false evacuation warnings; extent of destruction on Newfield; progression of the fire; firefighting mistakes; importance of short lawns in keeping the fire at bay; heat so intense metal melted; lack of organization; backfiring not allowed, though sometimes practiced; use of a plane for observation; a...

Abstract

1220 Earl Bibber, interviewed by Joyce Butler, February 14, 1977, Kennebunk, Maine. Bibber talks about his experience during the fires of 1947 as a member of the Arundel Engine Company; community firefighting efforts; working on the line fighting the fire; the Kennebunkport village under threat; purchase of new equipment after the fire; feelings of firemen about their work; depletion of water supply; and towns helping neighboring towns.

Abstract

1232 Esther Smith, interviewed by Joyce Butler, November 2, 1977, Waterboro, Maine. Smith talks about the fires of 1947 in Waterboro; reading of a paper she wrote for a local historical society; outbreak of fire; escape to Saco; her young daughters’ reactions to the fire; reading of another paper she wrote; dry weather conditions that autumn; firefighters and feed stations; evacuation of Waterboro; buildings which were lost to the fire; and community and Red Cross relief efforts.

Abstract

1228 Frank Handlen, interviewed by Joyce Butler, September 9, 1977, Kennebunkport, Maine. Handlen discusses his experience of the 1947 wildfires in the Biddeford – Kennebunkport area; sight of the smoke; fire coming through and description of it; a man who saved his house; lack of organized firefighting; fire lingering in a bog and loss of trees; how Goose Rocks burned; and a house that was spared.

Abstract

1221 G. Robert Butler, interviewed by Joyce Butler, July 8, 1977, Kennebunk, Maine. Butler discusses the fires of 1947 in Biddeford, Maine; community effort to help those displaced by the fires; high school boys fighting the fires; locations he fought fire; firefighting in neighboring towns; preparations to leave; lack of awareness about fires in other parts of Maine; the woods after the fires had gone out; and learning to fight fire by experience.

Abstract

1233 Josephine Higgins, interviewed by Joyce Butler, April 21, 1977, Bar Harbor, Maine. Higgins discusses the 1947 fires in Bar Harbor; delaying evacuation; evacuation routes; fear that gas tanks would explode; and the kindness of people and the Red Cross.

Abstract Kenneth Day, interviewed by Joyce Butler, November 12, 1977, East Parsonsfield, Maine. Day talks about the fires of 1947 in western York County; the day the fire started; path of the fire; how he was given authority to direct firefighting; use of backfires; a fire started by a cigarette butt; loss of wildlife; his previous firefighting experience in the northwest; importance of experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge about firefighting; white birch and poplar as first to grow after a...

Abstract 1227 Lawrence T. Dolby, interviewed by Joyce Butler, July 14, 1977, Saco, Maine. Dolby discusses the fires of 1947; his duties as State Fire Inspector; the dry conditions that fall; lack of public understanding of the situation and danger; failure to fully extinguish fires when they died down at night; his duties in 1947, particularly dealing with cases of arson; force of the fire and hot air; destructive impact of the fires; fires pulling the community together; firefighters from Boston...

Abstract 1252 Martin V. B. Wildes, interviewed by Joyce Butler, April 3, 1977, Kennebunk, Maine. Wildes discusses the fire of 1947 in Kennebunkport; progression of the fire, particularly around Cape Porpoise; speed of the destruction; description of fire as all flames and no smoke; loss of equipment due to rapid approach of fire; fighting spot fires in Wildes Town; bulldozing a trench which stopped the fire; equipment used to fight the fire; lack of communication; changes in firefighting after 1947;...

Abstract 1224 Thelma (Mrs. Joseph) Burrows, interviewed by Joyce Butler, May 3, 1977, Kennebunkport, Maine. Burrows discusses the fires of 1947 in Kennebunkport; the damage done to the town; dry conditions that fall and awareness of danger; suspected arson; making donuts for firefighters; help coming from as far as Boston; need for milk to settle firefighters’ stomachs; group of women who worked to keep the firefighters fed; food donations; contributions made by local women; efforts of the Red Cross...

Abstract

1235 W. Charles Smith, Sr., interviewed by Joyce Butler, December 12, 1977, Saco, Maine. Smith talks about the fires of 1947 in York County; progression of the fire around Saco; attempts of homeowners to keep houses wet; fighting side fires; dead animals; areas and buildings that did not burn; talk of arson which he did not believe; and the community’s fire consciousness afterwards.