Naples FD invests in SCBA bottles

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer

NAPLES — Public safety needs a lot of life savors so they can perform the job of saving lives.

One of those necessary pieces of equipment is the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) cylinders. Those bottles last about 15 years.

At the Naples Fire Department, 31 of those SCBA bottles will expire in May and those will need to be replaced. Between rising costs and setting aside less in reserves, the department is about $3,000 short to make those purchases.

On Jan. 18, Naples Fire Chief Justin Cox requested that the Naples Board of Selectmen authorize tak- ing $2,760 from the EMS account to add to the existing money in reserve. Chief Cox said he would request in the upcoming budget that money be replaced.

The board voted, 4-0, to move funds to cover purchasing the cylinders.

Selectman Bill Adams was not present at the make-up meeting, which took place on a Wednesday instead of Monday.

“As you know, we’ve been setting money aside each year in reserves for SCBA bottles replacement,” Chief Cox said.

“We have 31 units, 31 bottles, that are due May 2023,” he said.

“In last year’s budget, I had priced out bottles. They were $980 a piece.

Casco to select warming center

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO —

Cumberland County Commissioner Susan Witonis got a little hot about the lack of a proper warming site when the temperatures got really cold last week.

The Town of Casco should select an official warming center, she said.

“As commissioner, I am concerned about having an EMA [Emergency Management Agency] warming site. It was my understanding that when this [the Casco Community Center] was built, it was going to be a designated warming site. That is reason we put in kitchen and a shower here. In the event of an emergency, this building would be used,” she said.

The Crooked River School could feasibility serve as a warming center, too, she said.

“I was quite surprised that the library was out there as a place to go. But, it is not big enough and it doesn’t follow the criteria,” she said.

Witonis brought up her concerns on Tuesday dur- ing the Public Participation time at the Casco Board of Selectmen meeting.

She was worried about citizens who might not be warm enough in their homes during the massive temperature drop last Friday and Saturday. With the wind chill, tempera-

WARMING, Page 5A

Scott [the supplier] is not going to have an increase from last February until April 1. April 1 is when they’re increasing When I priced them out, they were $980 a piece. Now, it’s $300,380 for 31 bottles. What we have set aside is $297,600,” he said. “Two years prior to today, we were putting $9,600 aside for bottles. After budget cuts last year, we put $6,000 in, which leaves a difference of $2,780 to buy all 31 bottles.” of bail conditions. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Cumberland County Unified Court last Friday. The CCSO deputy was treated for minor injuries at Maine Medical Center and released.

“I am recommending that we take out of EMS equipment the $2780 so” the department has the money for the purchases, he said.

Chief Cox commented it might be cheaper. He planned to put the item out to bid on Jan. 19 but he wanted the funding lined up first.

“I’m good with that recommendation,” Vice Chair Ted Shane said.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office would like to say “thank you” to those community members who stopped to assist the deputy in need.

Christopher Hunt