June 12--SABATTUS -- Marc Veilleux was a firefighter in a neighboring town, driving his daughter to school when he spotted flames and pulled a woman from a burning building on Middle Street.
A year later, Veilleux is the town's new fire chief.
He calls it pure coincidence, and he's still modest about the rescue.
"It's one of those things that I did but definitely don't expect any recognition for it," said Veilleux, 45, of Greene.
In March, Sabattus lost its fire chief when Don Therrien resigned. Veilleux had been with the Lisbon Fire Department for 22 years, the last 10 as deputy chief. He left Lisbon for the new position and started here May 9.
The two towns back each other up with mutual aid and Veilleux already knew many of the Sabattus volunteer firefighters.
"I like the small-town community," he said. "I'd like to take what I've learned from other departments, through training, around the state and the country and apply them here."
Veilleux is on the board of directors of the Maine Fire Chiefs' Association. He has owned a plumbing and heating business, Veilleux Plumbing, since 1991 in Lisbon. A major fire in that town in 1987 started him on the path of firefighting.
"The Worumbo Mill fire was my kick in the butt," he said.
He'd been working for a local plumbing contractor at the time and was called back to the office when the mill fire broke out nearby.
"I was told to take my ladder off my truck," he said. "The next thing I know, someone threw me a hose and said, 'Start watering.'"
He climbed up on the roof and sprayed for the next 12 hours, trying to keep buildings wet and out of harm's way.
A few years later, Veilleux approached the Lisbon Fire Department about becoming a volunteer.
He would like to grow the volunteer firefighter roster in Sabattus, see the department hold more fundraisers so it can give to charity and create a new fire auxiliary group for men and women.
"I'd like to see a little more community involvement between the citizens and the department," Veilleux said.
He'll have more help with his goals. When the town hired Veilleux, it created a second assistant fire chief position and hired Rob Gayton III, a volunteer with the department for the past nine years. He joined Chris Morin, assistant chief for the past five years.
Gayton, 27, of Sabattus, is a full-time firefighter for the city of Lewiston. He started with the Sabattus department at 18, inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Seeing all those firefighters die, I'll never forget," Gayton said. "It was a way for me to initially give back to my community, but it's given me so much more. It really sparked my interest in becoming a career fireman."
He's heading up fire prevention and training. Morin is heading up communications equipment and apparatus.
The chief's position is a stipend without set hours. Veilleux anticipates spending Tuesdays at the fire station.
"Another goal (is) succession planning," he said. "When I decide I need to be done -- or whoever decides I need to be done -- someone else can take the position."
Sabattus averages 160 fire calls per year. The fire in March 2012 on Middle Street damaged a double-wide mobile home. When Veilleux saw the flames, there were cars in the yard but no one outside. He helped a woman escape through the window.
Town Manager Andrew Gilmore said he purposely didn't share the rescue with others in the hiring process. He didn't want them influenced by the heroics.
"Some of you may have noticed he looks familiar; here's why," Gilmore told selectmen after Veilleux's new post was official.
Copyright 2013 - Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine
