South Portland played a role in both American and world history during World War II, when the workers at our shipyards constructed both Ocean-class and Liberty-class cargo ships. From 1941 to 1945, we built and launched 244 Liberty ships and 30 Ocean ships.

In order to construct these 274 ships, the two shipyards (East and West Yards) had to be in constant, round-the-clock production. With a construction endeavor this large and with welding torches in use for nearly 24 hours a day, the threat of fire was very real.

While one would normally think of fire as something that breaks out in a building, at the shipyard the possibility of a fire in or around one of the ships was there, as well.

In order to have a quick response in the event of fire and, perhaps more importantly, to prevent a fire from starting in the first place, the shipyard employed its own fire department with 60 regular firefighters and another 30 or so call firefighters in an auxiliary fire department.

Although commonly referred to as the shipyard fire department, we have found several names under which the fire company operated, depending on the time period and what name the shipyard was using at that time.

In one photo, we can clearly see “Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corp. Fire Dept.” lettered on the truck (the name for the East Yard from 1941 to the spring of 1943). After the two yards merged and became New England Shipbuilding Corporation in 1943, we often see the fire department referred to as the NESC Fire Department.

One of the main roles of firefighters in the shipyard fire department was to provide surveillance of all of the hulls of ships, whether they were in the basins at the East Yard, on the ship ways at the West Yard, or tied up at the outfitting piers at either yard. This constant surveillance by the fire department was intended to catch and deal with any fires immediately, before they had a chance to grow into a more damaging fire.

An article in the April 15, 1944, New England Keel newspaper provides a terrific view of the duties that these regular firefighters were assigned: “The yard areas and all buildings within this property are patrolled over the entire 24 hour period, and in addition, further activities involving this department are included as follows: Checking all sprinkler systems every eight hours; checking all hydrants every eight hours; responsibility of necessary measures in loading of fuel oil on hulls at the outfitting piers; constant supervision of all fire equipment throughout plant; daily educational program for new employees at Training School [in the old East High Street School]; servicing all ship fire extinguishers; organizing and training volunteer firemen in all phases of fire prevention and fire safety.

“Numerous contacts with department foremen, especially Welding and Burning Depts., prior to the performance of a hazardous job, has in most cases brought very desirable results, as it enables the covering of such hot jobs while they are in progress.”

The shipyard fire department employed primarily experienced firemen among its regulars. In a 1943 Evening Express article, the fire chief George Stevens was quoted as saying his men had from three to 30 years of prior experience as firemen and all were highly trained in first aid. Stevens went on to say, “The men are even more vigilant during lunch hours and between shifts than ordinarily because those are the times when fire is most likely to strike and get a good start.”

Fire chief Stevens was a veteran of the Portland Fire Department, where he had served in the 1930s as lieutenant. He was employed by Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding as its fire chief and when the two yards merged, he became the fire chief of the NESC Fire Department.

After the war, Stevens was hired by the War Assets Administration to continue running the fire department on the site of the former shipyards. During the forest fires of 1947, Stevens led a large crew of firefighters who deployed to Waterboro to lend their skills and equipment to the effort to control the massive fires.

Note: If you enjoy reading about South Portland history, please consider becoming a member of the South Portland Historical Society. A one-year family membership is only $25 and supports our mission of preserving local history. Donations can be made through our online museum website at https://sphistory.pastperfectonline.com, or if you’d prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to South Portland Historical Society and mail to us at 55 Bug Light Park, South Portland, ME 04106. Thank you. If you need to contact the society, we can be reached by email at sphistory04106@gmail.com or by phone at 207-767-7299.

Kathryn Onos DiPhilippo is executive director of the South Portland Historical Society. She can be reached at sphistory04106@gmail.com.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Maine Audubon seeks stream explorers

Next »

A Window on the Past – The Harford family of Ferry Village