WOOLWICH

A large crowd of firefighters in dress uniforms and residents filled the Woolwich fire station Sunday afternoon for the dedication of the town’s new engine.

Following a blessing for the new truck, Woolwich Fire Chief Michael Demers called Capt. Larry Albert up from the crowd in attendance, much to the firefighter’s surprise.

It was then that Demers told Albert the new truck was being dedicated in his honor, recognizing the captain for his 44 years of service to the Woolwich Fire Department. Somehow the close-knit fire family was able to plan for the dedication in secret.

Demers recalled when he became chief, he told Albert — who welcomes change and is always dependable, but will speak up when he doesn’t something — that the fire house was his.

“He promised me that he will be here to help me until that day he can’t sit up and put on his shoes,” Demers said, “and I’m gong to hold him to that.”

Albert, emotional at the surprise tribute paid to him, thanked everyone for coming.

“I didn’t have a clue,” he said after the ceremony, adding that his wife Amber was in on it too. “That’s something I’ll never forget.”

He’s stayed with the department for 44 years because he enjoys it.

“I enjoy helping the residents of Woolwich,” he said. “What really hits me hard is when someone comes up to me and says ‘thank you for your service. Thank you for what you do.’”

Firefighting has been in his blood since he was a child. He became a junior firefighter at age 14 in Hallowell, where he grew up, and stayed with that department until he moved to Woolwich. He was working at the small grocery store across the street from the old fire station in 1973 when the fire chief at the time convinced him to join the fire department. Every time the phone rang with a fire call, he’d switch on the store alarm, run across the street and grab a truck.

“I’ve seen a lot of people come and go,” Albert said. “I’ve seen a lot of chiefs; I’ve worked with a lot of chiefs.”

He told the first chief he served under he’d never wear a white hat, referring to the white helmets fire chiefs and deputy chiefs wear. He was willing to wear a red helmet as captain and he has.

“I felt that I could do more as a captain, to work with the firefighters, to train them, help them go into buildings,” he said, noting that the chief and deputy chiefs watch the entire scene from outside.

Albert no longer runs into burning buildings, but works the truck, and will be running the Engine 2. As part of the ceremony, he called dispatch to inform them the truck is now in service, meaning it can now respond to calls.

“The best thing on this truck is the whole truck,” Albert said, “because I helped design it.”

Demers said the new engine will replace a 1985 tank truck, which started its life as an engine but was refurbished as a tanker in 2005. The department decided it was time to retire that truck and replace it with the Freightliner engine.

In May, Woolwich voters approved the issuing of a bond of up to $348,000 to purchase a new fire truck.

“This truck is equipped with a compressed air foam center which is the latest technology,” Demers said, noting that allows less use of water.

In addition, the vehicle will house battery operated Jaws of Life and other extrication equipment. The truck will also protect crews at crash scenes, used as a roadblock to help keep vehicles from hitting firefighters.