Cumberland Rescue Vehicles
Cumberland Rescue, now the Cumberland Fire Department Ambulance, was created in 1958 with a used blue government surplus panel truck acquired from Dow Air Force Base in Bangor.
The truck was painted white, and cabinets for supplies were built by Greely Institute senior George Small. Citizens were trained as emergency medical service personnel.
In 1971, a fund drive enabled the Fire Department to purchase the first vehicle that was actually built as an ambulance and outfitted with equipment for rescue work. In 1991, it was removed from the Fire Department and made into a service of its own, led by Chief Christopher Bolduc. Soon a third unit was added, assigned to the West Cumberland Station, the second unit being the one on Chebeague Island.
In 2009, the Rescue Department was reunified with the Fire Department to utilize on-duty staff. The per diem and student programs participants are both incorporated into this service. With many senior citizen facilities now in the town, there are calls for the rescue just about daily.
Cumberland Rescue Vehicles
