The Westport Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD), incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1955, is an unpaid all-volunteer fire department whose members act as first responders for fire and medical services on the island. The Department is supported by Town funds, maintaining a bottle drop, annual fundraising, the annual summer barbeque and donations from providing community services such as burning brush and filling pools.
In addition to providing fire safety and first responder services, our volunteer firefighters attend weekly meetings, attend training for certifications to everything from operating fire equipment to learning firefighting science and tactics, and they routinely contribute time to maintain the fire house and fire equipment. WVFD equipment includes a foam-capable fire truck, a tanker, a brush truck, a rescue truck and an inflatable boat for water rescues.
Westport Island does not have town water, so there is no on-island access to pressurized water. Dry hydrants at two small ponds on the Island allow the WVFD to fill the tanker. Members would like to develop more dry hydrants, which would help to improve fire preparedness as well as to improve home insurance rates. In the winter, the tanker is filled at the Wiscasset Fire Department, a mutual aid partner.
Fire, medical and emergency dispatching is provided by Lincoln County 911. The Fire Department has a mutual aid agreement with all the fire departments in Lincoln County, as well as with two Sagadahoc County fire departments.
