Who We Are and What We Do

Harpswell has three volunteer fire and rescue departments, each serving distinct areas of town: West Harpswell and Harpswell Neck, Cundy's Harbor and most of Great Island, and Orr's and Bailey Islands and southern Great Island.

We provide all emergency fire and rescue response in the community. When someone calls 911 for help, we spring into action, with volunteers rushing to our stations to climb aboard ambulances, fire trucks and other rescue vehicles to respond to emergencies, day or night.

The three departments work closely together, responding to mutual aid calls in each other's district, with additional help available from Brunswick as needed. Each department has an ambulance to respond to emergency medical calls, backed up by full-time paramedic service provided by the town through a contract with Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. While the professional paramedic is on hand to direct advanced medical care, the departments rely on volunteer emergency medical technicians to help provide life-saving treatment to residents in need. Other volunteers are necessary to help transport patients and drive the ambulances and other rescue vehicles.

In addition to mutual aid, the three departments work together in other areas, including frequent training sessions, and share a standard set of operational guidelines to provide seamless fire and rescue services throughout the entire town.

All three departments are independent, nonprofit organizations, with tax-exempt status. Each has its own board of directors and is responsible for its own budget and fund-raising. The Town of Harpswell provides some budget support to the departments, and purchases and owns the vehicles used for fire and rescue response.

Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department

The Cundy's Harbor department serves the Cundy's Harbor area, all of Great Island north of the intersection of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24, the New Meadows River islands west of the main channel, and Quahog Bay, including, but not limited to, Bombazine, Bragdon, Long, Sheep, George, Yarmouth, Bush, Little Yarmouth, Pole, Snow and Ben Islands.

Located at 837 Cundy's Harbor Road, the department responded to 206 calls in 2015, including 142 for EMS and 64 for fire response.

For more information, please visit www.chvfd.info.

Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue

The Harpswell Neck department serves the west side of town, including all of Harpswell Neck and Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge, along with many small islands south and west of Harpswell Neck.

The largest of the three town departments, HNFR has about 30 volunteers and is located at 1430 Harpswell Neck Road, by Mitchell Field. The department responded to 238 calls for help in 2015, including 160 for emergency medical service and 78 for fire service.

More information is available on the HNFD Web site at www.harpswellneckfireandrescue.org.

Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department

The Orr's and Bailey Islands department serves all of Orr's and Bailey Islands and the portions of Great Island south of Stevens Corner Road, including Long Point, Mountain Road east of the Ewing Narrows bridge and several off-shore islands. Its main station is located at 1600 Harpswell Islands Road (Route 24) on Orr's Island, with an auxiliary station and additional vehicles at 2094 Harpswell Islands Road on Bailey Island.

OBIFD responded to 233 calls in 2015, including 170 for EMS and 63 for fire.

For more information, please visit www.obifd.org.