Maine
Too many seniors are falling, so Maine fire department hiked fees 2200% for a lift
A Maine fire department has hiked its fee for giving seniors a lift by 2,200 percent as it says too many of them are falling and can’t get up.
Health care facilities and nursing homes in Bangor, around a two-hour drive northeast of Portland, have called their local fire department at least 225 times this year to help lift a patient after falling, Fire Chief Geoffrey Low said, according to the Bangor Daily News.
There were only 275 calls made in all of 2024. The calls are specifically related to instances where the patient does not need to be transported to a medical facility afterwards.
It takes first responders about 30 minutes to complete one of these calls, Low said.
“That’s a considerable amount of time just in six months where resources aren’t available and we’re filling a role that those facilities or housing complexes should be able to do,” Low said.
Care facilities formerly had to pay $25 for the first three calls of this kind and then $125 if they made more calls. Now, these facilities will have to pay $550 for every call.
Low said the facilities call the fire department out of concern staff may injure their backs when attempting to lift patients.
The Independent has reached out to nursing homes in the area for comment.
Low made clear the fire department is always willing to help seniors, even if they are not injured.
“It’s not dignified to show up and say ‘Well you’re not hurt. We’re going to leave you on the floor,” he said.
The fire chief continued: “That’s just not right and I wouldn’t expect my staff to do that. We’re going to pick them up and treat them like people, like we should.”
Falls among people 65 and older are quite common around the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than one out of four older adults fall each year, but fewer than half tell their doctor.
Falling once doubles an older person’s chances of falling again, the CDC warns. Falls can cause hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries, which could be deadly.
The CDC came out with a report this month which found death rates from unintentional falls increased by more than 70 percent for adults aged 65 to 74 years. The data was collected over 20 years from 2003 to 2023.
WISCASSET, Maine (WMTW) – A Maine man has been arrested after police say he intentionally set a bed on fire after a dispute with his girlfriend, while they were still in it.
Police responded Monday, March 9, to a report of a fire that had been intentionally set inside a home on Beechnut Hill Road, according to the Wiscasset Police Department.
Investigators say the homeowner, Terry Couture, 41, set the bed on fire following an argument while both he and his girlfriend were in it. Authorities said the fire was extinguished and no serious injuries were reported.
Couture was arrested and charged with attempted murder, arson, aggravated criminal mischief, and domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
CLIFTON, Maine (WABI) – Maine Maple Sunday is less than two weeks away, and the Williams Family Farm in Clifton is gearing up for one of the sweetest seasons yet.
A long stretch of frost and snow meant a late start this year, but the first boil of sap has finally run through the evaporator, and maple season is officially underway.
At Williams Family Farm, everything is done by hand:
- Fresh maple syrup, bottled on-site
- Maple sugar, carefully extracted in small batches
- Baked candied pecans, cashews, and more
The Williams family has spent years working with whatever weather sends their way.
Long winters, surprise warmups, and everything in between—they’ve learned how to adapt so community members can enjoy their products.
As co-owner John Williams explains, the key is in the temperature.
“You need to have it warm during the day and still freezing at night, so typically that’s the middle of February,” said Williams. “We have a lot of trees, so we have to start tapping them before the conditions are ideal, so we start tapping way before it’s time for it to run just so we can get them all tapped. If you have ten trees in your backyard, you want to wait until roughly now, the middle of February to now, and when it’s actually running and put them in then because you can put all your taps in, in one day.”
They’re excited to welcome the community during Maine Maple Weekend on March 21 and 22.
They will be boiling up sap, hosting demonstrations, and providing free samples.
Locals can also join them for their third annual pancake breakfast where all proceeds are donated to Holbrook Recreation.
Follow the link to find out their hours for March and more.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
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