In the public eye: New Windham firefighter values department’s outstanding teamwork

Editor’s Note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

There’s truth to the statement that the community rests easier at night because Windham firefighters such as Cameron Lebel remain ready, courageous, and unwavering on every single call for assistance.

Cameron Lebel has worked for the Windham Fire and Rescue
Department for seven months as a firefighter and Advanced 
Emergency Medical Technician and spent a year as a live-in
student with the department while attending Southern Maine
Community College. He is assigned to work Shift 3 at
Windham's North Fire Station and has experience as a
firefighter for both the Turner and Naples Fire
Departments. SUBMITTED PHOTO      

Lebel joined the Windham Fire and Rescue Department in April as a Firefighter and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician after serving as a live-in student with the department for a year while attending Southern Maine Community College and completing all the necessary training and requirements to be placed on shift. He is assigned to work Shift 3 at Windham’s North Fire Station.

His duties as a firefighter for Windham include responding to emergencies when they arise including fires, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents and an array of other rescue situations. He extinguishes fires using hoses, pumps, and other firefighting equipment and is responsible for keeping fire apparatus and equipment clean, organized, and in sound working order. He also spends continuous classroom and field training in a wide range of fire prevention and emergency situations.

As an advanced EMT, Lebel evaluates a patient's condition and injuries at fire and accident scenes and during medical emergencies while administering assistance, monitoring a patient's vital signs and offering basic and advanced life support for patients until they are transported to the hospital.

“The best part of the job is it's fast-paced nature and the rewarding culture to be there and be able to give care and aid to people who are having some of their worst days,” Lebel said.

Serving as a firefighter and EMT is nothing new for Lebel.

He grew up in Turner and became an Eagle Scout while a member of Scout Troop 187. Being an Eagle Scout is the highest rank and distinction he could earn as a scout and is awarded for excellence in skills development, leadership, personal growth and community service. Lebel also served for a year as Section Vice President of Scouting America’s Eastern Region Section 19 The Order of the Arrow.

After graduating from high school and while attending college, Lebel also worked as a firefighter in Turner and Naples.

“I'm currently finishing up a fire science degree at Southern Maine Community College,” he said. “I went to SMCC for fire science while living and working at Windham Fire and Rescue and earning my firefighter 1+2 and advanced EMT license. My family was nervous about my career choice at first and rightfully so. But they are very supportive of my choice, and I can confidently say they are proud of me and my career.”

According to Lebel, he wants to clarify the notion that working as an EMT is different from serving as a firefighter.

“I'd say the biggest misconception is that firefighting and Emergency Medical Service are two separate jobs when in fact here in Windham every member is cross trained to work on both an ambulance and fire apparatus.”

The job is tough and dangerous but it’s one that Lebel says he enjoys because he is helping to protect the community.

“We work 24-hour shifts two days a week instead of the traditional 9 to 5,” he said. “We work 24 hours on shift, 48 off, 24 on, and 96 off.”

In looking back at his time with Windham Fire and Rescue so far, Lebel says he can recall specific memorable moments that stand out for him, but the department’s camaraderie is exceptional.

“I can say is the people I get to work with become a second family and for 24 hours at a time, I get to do the best job in the world with some of the best people in the world,” he said.

Lebel cites his unique experience of being a live-in student with Windham Fire and Rescue and ability to get an inside look into the department before applying for a position here.

“What made me put in an application in Windham were the people I met and their willingness to mentor and guide me as a young individual in the fire service,” he said.

Of everything he’s learned here though, one aspect of his job has been very noticeable for him.

“I'd say working this job has reinforced the cliche of don't judge a book by its cover,” Lebel said. “Just in the town of Windham alone we have many extraordinary people from all different walks of life, and it's humbling to meet just some of these people and hear their stories.” <