SEARSMONT — It has been a devastating spring and summer for funerals. Retired Fire Chief Ken Desmond, 76, of Woolwich, recently returned from the fourth funeral of Maine firefighters, all of whom he either worked with, trained, or had as a good friend.

Harpswell Fire Administrator Mike Drake, a lifelong firefighter and leader at multiple departments on the Midcoast, died unexpectedly May 9. 

Andrew Cross, a firefighter for the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, died tragically on scene at the Robbins Lumber fire explosion Searsmont May 15.

John R. Arsenault, 75, a member of the Maine Fire Protection Commission and Vice President of the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters for Androscoggin County, died May 31. 

Searsmont Asst. Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury died June 14 from injuries suffered at the Robbins Lumber fire, and his funeral was held June 24. 

Twelve were injured at that explosion and fire and on July 2, Alden J. Robbins, who was on scene at the Robbins Lumber fire, died from injuries sustained there. 

Desmond, who has experienced his share of fires and emergencies over the last 55 years, said the Robbins Lumber explosion was the biggest tragedy he has witnessed in his career. 

Currently a Training Officer for Georgetown Fire and Rescue, Desmond formerly was the Fire Chief of Woolwich. Before that, he spent 18 years as Captain at Bath Fire and Rescue Department, leading workshops in training and education. Today, he serves as the President of the Maine State Federation of Firefighters as well as the Maine Director of the National Volunteer Fire Council in Washington. 

The Maine State Federation of Firefighters unifies and supports both career and volunteer firefighters across Maine. Its mission is to advocate for better safety rules, provide training help, and provide firefighters a shared voice.

The National Volunteer Fire Council, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit that supports volunteer firefighters, emergency medical services, and rescue workers. They act as the national voice for volunteers, advocating for laws, offer training, and provide health and safety resources

Desmond is also familiar with Searsmont. For the past 15 years, he has helped that town's fire department with training of skills, such as fire prevention, pump training, and driving/operating apparatus.

"I knew Wayne Woodbury for more than 35 years in the fire service," said Desmond. "I service-tested all the fire trucks every year at Robbins Lumber. All mutual aid departments get tested from me."

Desmond was one of the first called when the fire broke out May 15 at Robbins Lumber. 

"Chief Paul Smeltzer, of Waldoboro Fire, called me," he said. "I happened to be in Washington, D.C., at that time at a retreat for the National Volunteer Fire Council. Paul said to me, 'We're in a world of hell right now.' I had a lot of thinking to do before I got back to Maine, and the first person to meet me at the gate was Senator Angus King, who gave me his condolences."

Condolences and support have continued to pour in from firefighters in New England and nationally. Several fundraisers have been organized to support the victims, as detailed here.

"This has affected everyone," said Desmond. "I've had some very quiet moments over the weeks; no TV, just by myself, thinking, 'What can I do? I just want to find some positive way to move on and learn how we can do better the next time." 

According to Desmond, in the aftermath of the Robbins Lumber tragedy, he has observed remarkable unity between paid union firefighters and volunteer firefighters. At one point, 20 years ago, Desmond, said this was not the case. 

Additional departments came to the Midcoast to cover as backup for the departments who were on the scene.

"For the last four or five years, I've seen volunteer and career firefighters come together, and at the funeral of Asst. Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury, the union firefighters of Boston were there with their color guard to help us," he said. "That is true volunteer-career membership. We're all coming together to honor a firefighter as one."

Behind the scenes, Desmond said firefighters from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and even as far away as Nantucket drove to Maine to pay their respects and to ask what they could do to help because they believed in the brotherhood and the sisterhood of fire service.

"That's telling in how much people care about people, especially firefighters," he said. 

Desmond also said individuals stepped up in ways where they saw a need and quietly filled it.

"An EMT from Paris, Maine, went to Walmart and filled her car with groceries and water and drove to Searsmont to give it to anyone affected by the fire," he recalled.

"There's this feeling when you live in Maine that the state is one big community—we're not alone, we have each other," he said.

"We're now in the phase of trying to mend the wounds," he said. "That day, a lot of people got injured, and are still healing, some of them still in the hospital, which is why we have these fundraisers. But it has also taken a toll on the firefighters who were on the scene that day, and we need to make sure we take care of their mental health, too. So through the National Volunteer Fire Council, we have a hotline they can call 24-7 if they need some help."