Edgecomb's budget committee agreed to recommend a 42 percent hike in the fire department's budget April 1. If voters approve it May 11, the added money will allow firefighters to do what they're trained to do, and help the town avoid tens of thousands of dollars in state fines, Fire Chief Roy Potter said.

“If we don't get in compliance, I'm afraid that our department, instead of being an asset, is gong to become a liability,” Potter told the committee.

The committee's eventual nod was unanimous. But during the discussion, members questioned the size of the jump.

Committee Chairman Nort Fowler asked Potter if the world would cease to spin if the department didn't get everything it was seeking.

The world would still spin, but the department would face another year when it doesn't meet state standards, Potter said.

Six firefighters are trained to go inside a structure fire, but two can't, because their turnout gear is out of compliance, Potter said. That drops the number who can enter a burning building to four, two at a time, so that two are outside if needed. But Potter's one of the four, and unless he can hand control of the scene over to someone, he's not supposed to go in, he said.

That means possibly having to wait for other towns' firefighters to go inside, Potter said.

As proposed, the two firefighters in need of new, complete sets of turnout gear would receive them.

The committee also agreed to recommend that the  chief''s pay rise, from $5,500 to $7,000. In recent years, the committee had agreed to move toward the $7,000, so the panel now is morally committed to that, Fowler said.

Potter expressed concern that the department has no backup money. If a major event occurred that ruined firefighters' gear, and insurance didn't cover the loss, the department would have no way to replace it, he said.

“ ... It would basically shut us down,” Potter told the committee.

If that was ever in danger of happening, a special town meeting could be called, committee members said.

Last year's fire department budget was $47,030; this year's, as proposed, would be $67,050, a $20,020, hike.

With the gains on tap this year to meet the stand standards, following years' budgets should level off, Potter said. Committee members later said they hope so.

Townspeople need to start talking about the level of fire service they are willing to support long-term, Fowler added.

Thirteen people are currently on the department roster, but Potter said he would eventually like to see as many as 25 people on it.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.