Westbrook Fire Department

05/22/2026

Happy Friday! We appreciate all the questions we’ve received in our inbox so far and look forward to answering questions each week. This week’s submission is one we hear often.

What do firefighters do when they’re not on calls?

While Westbrook responds to an average of 14-15 emergency responses in a 24 period, our days aren’t always filled with emergencies. Other task firefighters accomplish between emergencies throughout the day:

- Training and practicing skills
- Inspecting and maintaining equipment
- Checking fire apparatus
- Conducting public education and community outreach
- Building Safety Surveys
- Completing reports and administrative tasks
- Cleaning and maintaining the station

Preparing and planning for emergency response takes significant focus and forethought. Though mostly behind the scenes, the important work is what fills a typical day.

05/21/2026

Westbrook Fire is proud to announce our participation in a new pilot program under the guidance of the Maine Medical Direction & Practices Board, Maine EMS, and MaineHealth – Comprehensive Addiction Medicine- Portland. Our team’s paramedics will be trained to deliver Buprenorphine, a medication that helps bridge the gap between emergency treatment and definitive care using a physician approved administration protocol.

This innovative initiative is the result of a strong collaboration with the Westbrook Maine Police Department's Drug Recovery Liaisons and our dedicated Paramedics, who will help deliver life-saving treatment and enrollment to recovery support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder. Maine currently has the eighth-highest overdose death rate in the United States, making programs like this critical to improving access to care and saving lives.

The pilot program starts this summer.

05/15/2026

Happy Friday! Today’s question clarifies some of the terms we use regularly, that although may seem interchangeable, have vastly different means and requirements.

What’s the difference between an EMT and a paramedic?

EMT: Provides basic emergency medical care such as CPR, oxygen, bleeding control, and patient assessment. The schooling takes roughly 6 months.

Paramedic: Provides advanced medical care including cardiac monitoring, IV medications, advanced airway management, and more. The schooling takes roughly two years (in addition to the 6 months for EMT)

The Westbrook Fire Department staff is almost exclusively trained at the paramedic level. This means when you call 911, you begin receiving the highest level of prehospital medical care as soon as the ambulance or fire truck arrives.

Have another question for FAQ Friday? Send us a private message!

05/08/2026

Happy Friday! Thank you to all those who submitted comments to our inbox. Our second week brings up another question we get continuously.

What are the rules regarding burning brush and having campfires in Westbrook?

Please refer to the city website for all questions regarding burn permits, rules, and regulations.

As a reminder, both city fire stations are able to issue burn permits after 9am. And all city firefighters are able to answer questions or clarify the rules should you need.

Burning permits may be obtained from either of the two fire stations on the day you plan to conduct a burn.

05/01/2026

Why do fire trucks respond to medical calls?
It’s a question we hear often—and it’s a great place to start our friday FAQ.

Why is a fire engine showing up for a medical emergency? Firefighters in Westbrook are trained as paramedics, meaning they can begin medical care right away. When every second counts, having more trained professionals on scene can make a real difference.

What’s the benefit of sending both an ambulance and a fire truck?Some emergencies require more than two hands. Fire crews can assist with patient care, lifting, CPR, starting an IV or preparing a patient for transport. This team approach helps deliver faster, more effective treatment.

Is this common practice? Yes. Across the country, fire departments routinely respond to medical calls as part of an integrated emergency response system designed to get help to you as quickly as possible.

Our goal is simple: provide the right care, at the right time, with the right resources.

04/27/2026

Westbrook Fire is excited to create a new way to connect with our followers and our community.

Starting May 1, we'll begin FAQ Friday!

Each Friday, we'll answer questions from our community and followers about our department, fire safety, emergncy response, training, and more.

Have a question you'd like us to cover? Send us your questions through a message right here on Facebook and it may be featured in an upcoming post.

We look forward to connecting and sharing more about the department and how we serve our community!

04/15/2026

Three candidates, all Firefighter/Paramedics, completed an eight week recruit school and officially graduated Monday in a ceremony at the public safety building. Please join us in welcoming Westbrook’s newest firefighters who start on their respective shifts this week! Congratulations, recruit class 26-01!

04/14/2026

The Westbrook Fire Department announces the retirement of Deputy Chief Gary Caron, marking the conclusion of an extraordinary 52-year career dedicated to protecting the City of Westbrook.
After graduating high school in 1974, Gary Caron started a job in the maintenance shop of the S.D. Warren Paper Mill. Co-workers in the mill encouraged Caron to join one of Westbrook’s volunteer fire companies. In those years SD Warren permitted mill employees to leave work to respond to emergencies—most often building fires within the community.
Caron was hired under Chief Rulman, who led the department from 1973 to 1994. The chief quickly recognized Caron’s dedication, strong work ethic, and deep commitment to public service. At the time, Westbrook operated four separate call companies, each consisting of 18 firefighters and four alternates. Caron was one of more then 90 volunteer firefighters, most of whom worked at the mill.
Through decades of service, Caron rose steadily through the ranks. In 1996, shortly after Chief Byron Rogers assumed leadership of the department, Caron was promoted to Deputy Chief. He has faithfully served in that role for nearly three decades, supporting both the call company and later the Fire-Police operations.
Reflecting on his long career, Caron notes that many calls have faded over the years. However, one incident stands out vividly—the major industrial fire on Dana Court at the former C.E. Noise facility, where tire retreading operations were conducted. The massive fire, located along the Presumpscot River in a four-story mill building, sent flames hundreds of feet into the air and was visible across Portland and southern Maine.
Firefighters from throughout southern Maine responded. Ultimately, a critical decision to draft water from the Presumpscot River using a stationary fire pump at a nearby mill property proved instrumental in controlling the blaze and protecting nearby neighborhoods, including Dana Court and Brown Street neighborhoods.
In addition to his fire service, Caron dedicated 40 years to S.D. Warren, retiring from Plant Protection only a few years ago.
Deputy Chief Caron’s legacy is defined by unwavering commitment, steadfast leadership, and a lifetime of service to his community. The Westbrook Fire Department extends its deepest gratitude for his decades of dedication and wishes Deputy Gary Caron a well-earned retirement.
A retirement ceremony will be held on April 30 at 5:00 p.m. at the Conant Street Post 197 Legion Hall. Community members are invited to attend and join in celebrating Deputy Chief Caron’s remarkable career.

04/09/2026

Please reach out if you are in need.

04/01/2026

Media release April 1, 2026.