LEWISTON, Maine — October month marks one year since the Lewiston mass shooting. Families and survivors are adjusting to their new realities, while having constant reminders that their lives will never quite be the same. In addition to those directly impacted, emergency first responders and medical personnel also experienced things the night of Oct. 25 no one ever should.
Over the last year, people and businesses have rallied together to show their support for the community, including the Maine-based brand Poland Spring.
Poland Spring donated $150,000 to six communities in Androscoggin County, including Lewiston, to help buy their fire departments nearly 140 bulletproof vests in the wake of the Lewiston shooting.
With the donation, the Lewiston Fire Department bought 75, the Auburn Fire Department purchased 21, and Lisbon, Poland, Durham, and Turner departments each bought 10.
"The firefighters will be wearing them on high-risk EMS calls," Lewiston Fire Chief Mark Caron said.
Caron said about 25 percent of the fire department's calls are for high-risk emergency medical service calls, such as gunshots or stabbings. He said the department individually issued the vests to each firefighter to use as part of their daily routine.
The Poland Spring donation comes after one of its employees was injured in the Lewiston mass shooting. Ben Dyer, a survivor shot five times at Schemengees Bar and Grille, is still out of work due to his injuries.
"You were going into an area that no one knew where he was and what he was doing, but you guys still put yourself, or put us first. You didn't care about your own wellbeing you took the time to go into buildings and facilities to care of everybody," Dyer told Caron and firefighters.
The Lewiston Fire Department responded to both shooting locations on Oct. 25.
"Obviously, it was very chaotic," Caron said. "We'd never expect it to happen in Lewiston, Maine but nobody does. Right? You don’t expect it until after it happens."
Now, firefighters have another layer of protection to use on a day-to-day basis.