October 15, 2014
The Cundy's Harbor and Orr's and Bailey Islands emergency medical squads each have a new captain -- and they should have little difficulty maintaining the close ties and cooperation between the two departments.
After all, they are sisters and members of a family with a long and deep history of service to the fire and rescue departments.
Sheila Lucas has been named Rescue Captain of the Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, while Cindy Watson is the new Rescue Captain of the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department.
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| Rescue Captains Cindy Watson, left, and Sheila Lucas, center, along with their Harpswell Neck counterpart, Gail Hart. OBIFD photo. |
The two departments, which are closely integrated and often assist each other, provide fire rescue service to all of the eastern side of Harpswell, including Great, Orr's, Bailey and numerous offshore Islands.
Lucas, 58, has been an emergency medical technician with the Cundy's Harbor department for 20 years. A house painter with two grown children and grandchildren, Lucas first joined the department after seeing the rescue squad in action close-up.
"My children are the reason I got involved with the fire department," she said. "In the early 90s, on Thanksgiving Day, they were involved in a serious car accident. I watched the personnel from CHFD and OBI work on my kids. They didn't hesitate to take time from their families to treat mine. I figured the best way I could say 'thank you' was to pay it forward."
Soon after, a neighbor knocked on her door, asked if she would be interested in joining the department and taking an EMT training course being held on Orr's Island.
"I signed up, took the class and have not ever regretted it," Lucas said. "It is very rewarding to be able to help our neighbors in need."
Watson, 43, has been a firefighter since 1997 and became an EMT with OBIFD in 2008, when she moved back to the islands after spending time in Vermont working as a sheriff's department dispatcher. A Bailey Island resident who recently married, Watson has a daughter, two step-daughters, two sons-in-law and two granddaughters.
An active volunteer who responds to many rescue calls, Watson said she enjoys helping people and "seeing the appreciation on the faces of the ones you helped and those closest to them."
"When people are experiencing times of trial, they want someone on their side," Watson said. "They want someone there to tell them that they are not alone in this world and that there are people out there who care and will help them to the best of their ability."
OBIFD Chief Ed Blain said that approach is a key reason why he named Watson to the position.
"What strikes me most about her is her genuine compassion for patients," Blain said. "She strives to provide quality care. Her easy-going style and calming affect with patients makes her a great EMT."
Blain said she also has shown the skills necessary to be a great leader for the rescue squad, which is actively recruiting and training a new generation of volunteer EMTs.
"She possesses a strong commitment to improve her skills with continuing education. This makes her a very competent provider who also likes to help her fellow EMTs improve their skills by sharing her knowledge," Blain said. "I have been impressed with her ideas to improve the team approach for EMS and fire and the manner she has reached out to support our new EMTs."
Cundy's Harbor Chief Benjamin Wallace Jr. had similar praise for Lucas.
"She has tremendous amount of experience and talent. She's hardworking and dedicated," Wallace said. "In addition she's really been there for me in the past year and has been an integral part of our department for years, and continues to be the most active member of the roster."
"Without her and the many other folks that keep us in a constant state of readiness, and respond to our community's call each day, our volunteer system can't work," he said.
In addition to their new leadership roles, Lucas and Watson are following a long family tradition of volunteer fire and rescue service.
"Our family 's involvement goes back to my grandfather and maybe even beyond that," Watson said.
Their mother, Ruth Perry, has been involved with OBIFD for decades, serving in the former auxiliary and still volunteering at department events, including the popular annual auction and yard sale. Their brother, Bob Perry, has been an OBIFD volunteer for more than 40 years, serving as a firefighter, captain and assistant chief. His son, Dan Perry, is now a captain in the department, and Lucas' daughter-in-law, Carrie, recently joined CHVFD as a new EMT.
Both sisters said they were especially inspired by the commitment of their brother.
"I always envied the passion he had for the department. I now know what that passion is like," Lucas said.
"He has been my idol all through my life," Watson said. "There isn't anything I can't do, because I know he can do it too and I can learn from him."
Watson also said she has been inspired by her older sister as well.
"I don't think she knows this, but she was my inspiration when I was taking my EMT course. I knew that if I had any questions or needed help with anything, I would be able to call on her and get the assistance I needed in order to make me a better EMT," Watson said.
"Sheila is a wonderful EMT, a treasured sister and an even better person. I have very proud of her, and I am proud to call her my sister."
Lucas has similar praise for her younger sister.
"I am very proud of Cindy. I look forward to working with her," she said.
The sisters said their training and professional cooperation is more important to their jobs than being sisters, but the close relationship can help.
"I don't think it will make a difference on a professional level. Our members have worked together before to coordinate trainings, etc., and it wasn't family members doing it then," Watson said. "On a personal note, it makes it easier to contact the other department officials with questions, ideas or what-have-you. There's no need to exchange phone numbers."
Both also said their top goals in their new positions are to maintain high standards of service and continue to attract new members to keep the volunteer service viable in town.
"If you're thinking about volunteering but aren't sure you will make a difference, or think you don't have time, think again," Watson said. "Everything you do, no matter how minor it might seem to you, makes a huge difference to someone else."
Lucas had a similar message.
"I wish more people had the opportunity to do this," she said. "I understand the difficulty of joining when families have small children. Who are they supposed to leave their children with at a moment's notice when the pager goes off? Being willing to watch your neighbor's children so they can respond would be a great way to volunteer and support the departments."
Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments include CHVFD, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24; Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge; and OBIFD, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner road and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.
More information on joining any of the three departments and the various roles available can be found at their joint recruitment web site at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.