About

The Tremont Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated in 1949 by a group of volunteers to protect property from fire and to assist in other emergencies. The department serves the town of Tremont Maine, located on the west side of Mount Desert Island. The town is comprised of the villages of Bass Harbor, Bernard, West Tremont, Seal Cove, and Gotts Island. Through mutual aid agreements, the department assists other towns on MDI and nearby islands: Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert, Bar Harbor and Swan's Island. The town has a total area of about 52 square miles, including 35 square miles of water and five of Acadia National Park. 

The department has two firehouses, the primary one in Bass Harbor and the other in Seal Cove. Even though the original sirens are still on the roofs of the firehouses, the department now communicates using UHF radios and internet applications. Calls for assistance are handled by the Southwest Harbor Police Department dispatchers. 

In addition to emergency response, the department actively supports the community. Each year the department holds fire drills and fire safety training at the town's elementary school. Tremont vehicles are often seen in local parades and join in the tradition of escorting victorious high school teams back onto MDI. 

When it was founded, the department relied on various fundraising projects for its income. Now it is supported with significant funding from the town and with donations from the public. The department is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.