Volunteer Fire Department Violates Safety Protocol, Town Fighting Penalties

The town of Harpswell is negotiating with the Maine Department of Labor about proposed fines issued to the fire department for safety violations, according to the local newspaper, the Forecaster.  The DOL’s Bureau of Labor Standards issued the town $6,400 in proposed fines after an inspection on April 8 found that the volunteer fire departments, primarily the Orr’s-Bailey Island Fire Department, had committed multiple violations.  One such violation occurred in late April when the fire department responded to an emergency call for a house fire caused by a lightning stri...