Local emergency responders stand on a new helipad constructed behind the Kingfield Fire Station. The pad will provide critical care options for emergency LifeFlight missions for years to come. Pictured (left to right ) are NorthStar’s Becky Morin and Ed Strapp, Poland Spring’s Terry Coffin, LifeFlight’s Mike Choate and Kingfield Fire Chief Chuck Twitchell. (David Hart photo) KINGFIELD -– Local firefighters and emergency medical responders congregated at the Kingfield Fire Station last Sunday for a one-hour training session on helicopter flight evacuations. Members also gathered to recognize a new helipad constructed thanks to the vision of Kingfield Fire Chief Chuck Twitchell.

The new helipad was largely funded by Poland Spring Water Bottling Company as part of its ongoing “good neighbor policy.”

“This creates greater options for LifeFlight besides the airport in Carrabassett,” said Becky Morin of NorthStar EMS. “They’ve landed here before, but it’s now much safer for everyone.”

“This provides a safe, secure landing zone that over time the pilots will become accustomed to,” said LifeFlight paramedic Mike Choate. Choate led the morning training session attended by 20 responders from Kingfield, Carrabassett, New Portland and NorthStar.

Choate said that the new helipad will reduce response times. “We do something called reconnaissance when landing… this is for our own safety to make sure there are no wires, trees and obstacles that will impact the safe landing of the helicopter. This helipad is an area that’s away from the road and can be secured easily by just one vehicle at the end of the driveway.”

“It’s exceptional and it’s exactly something that we’d want and what anyone else would want who lands here,” Choate said in terms of the construction’s quality.

Choate also noted the benefit of having two directions to approach the landing. Pilots can come from the north or the south. He recognized the addition of a wind sock that was installed on top of the fire station as extremely helpful. A pilot will want to ideally land into the wind, he explained.

Twitchell said that while they were improving their parking and apron area last fall, he saw the potential of a great LifeFlight landing zone. Twitchell explained he approached Poland Spring and the company was very generous in its offer to help.

“This would not have been possible without their financial support,” Twitchell said.

Twitchell said that there’s no question that Poland Spring has been willing to work with them since they arrived. This stems back to an early donation for an emergency street warning light and a more consistent and guaranteed source of water to fight fires. This came with the addition of a redundant water supply well funded by Poland Spring.

The latest contribution of funding in Kingfield continues to show their commitment to the town, Twitchell explained.

He also said that the company is very generous in supplying his department with bottled water so members don’t get dehydrated while fighting fires. “Whenever we need water they’re very willing to donate. I know that they also do that for other members of the community,” Twitchell explained.

“Poland Spring is proud to be a member of this community,” said operations manager Terry Coffin. “Being able to contribute to the local EMS system and having a quality LifeFlight pad here means it’s another option for people to get the critical care they need in the timeliest possible manner. It’s a cooperative effort.”

Coffin credited Twitchell and his group for seeing that people can get the proper care they need as quickly as possible. “We’re glad to be able to contribute to help facilitate that,” Coffin explained.

Twitchell noted that there are other quality landing zones in the area, but being so geographically spread out means that the more you have, the better off you are.

Like Poland Spring plant manager Cameron Loraine, who is a member of the Strong Fire Department, Coffin joined the Kingfield Department a few months ago. Coffin was a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician in other towns and is looking ahead to get recertified as an EMT sometime soon.

“I really enjoy giving some of my time to the community and being able to volunteer and help the local fire and EMS system,” he explained.