CAMDEN — Since 1955, Harold Drinkwater has been responding to calls for fires, accidents, flooded basements, and most recently, traffic control. August 2013 will mark his 58th year with the Camden Fire Department, and during Monday night's training, Atlantic Engine Company #2 surprised him with a special honor.

Camden's newest fire apparatus - a big, red, shiny, state of the art Dash-CF multi-purpose vehicle built by Pierce Manufacturing in Wisconsin – now proudly bears the names "Engine 4" and "Harold Drinkwater" on the side.

Camden took delivery of Engine 4 Jan. 7, and firefighters have since spent a lot of time learning how to operate every control and state-of-the-art function.

Monday night, 81-year-old Drinkwater (he turns 82 next week) learned that his name was now also on the truck.

"Harold has been here for so long, and I have been trying to think of a way to honor him. And then Andrew Lowe also said we needed to do something for Harold, and we thought to put his name on the new truck," said Chief Chris Farley.

Drinkwater joined the fire department when he was 24, at the invitation of then-Chief Alan Payson.

"Alan asked me to join, and I told him I didn't know anything about firefighting," said Drinkwater. "He just said, 'That's OK, just come when the whistle blows and we'll find something for you to do.'"

At the time, Drinkwater worked at the Knox Woolen Mill, where he started running machinery before becoming a foreman and then a supervisor. His career at the mill spanned 38 years.

Back in those early days of firefighting, Drinkwater said turnout gear consisted of a helmet, boots and a rubber rain coat.

"Back then, we often grabbed the helmet only and went," said Drinkwater.

Despite the lack of safe equipment, if any equipment at all, Drinkwater said he was never injured as a firefighter.

At the Camden Fire Department, Drinkwater spent 30 years as an assistant chief. He came into the position when a current assistant chief wanted a leave of absence and then-Chief Bob Oxton asked if Drinkwater would take his place "for a while."

"He appointed me for a month, but then the company had to vote me in and at the end of the next monthly meeting, they voted that they wanted me and I stayed there for 30 years," said Drinkwater.

In addition to Payson and Oxton, Drinkwater served under former chiefs Dick Moody, Bruce Hensler and Steve Gibbons, and now current Fire Chief Chris Farley.

It was while Gibbons was chief that Drinkwater decided he wanted to "retire" as assistant chief.

"I told Steve I wanted to retire and go on to be a fire police, as I would not have as much responsibility at the fire scene," said Drinkwater. "I was 72 then. He told me if I wanted it, to be assistant chief, just say so and he would appoint me again, but I told him I wanted to try something different."

During the past five years, Drinkwater's annual average response rate to calls has been 66.6 percent, according to Farley. When there is a fire call now, he's the older gentleman standing near a station wagon who is often seen redirecting traffic. And he likes the job, just fine.

As for the honor of having his name on Engine 4, Drinkwater said it was a surprise, to be sure.

"I was stunned," he said. "We got to the meeting last night and I thought we were going to start and Chris said, 'Let's all go out to the bay where the new truck is.' I didn't hurry, I took my time and when I got out there he was talking about the truck with everyone and next thing I know, he called my name and said he wanted to talk to me."

Drinkwater stood in front of the group with Farley, who asked him how long he had been with the department, and what year he started.

"Chris was talking for a little bit more, and I didn't give a thought to anything then when he asked me to help him take a piece of paper off the side of the truck that was taped up. I started pulling and saw my last name, then my first name, then the year I started with the department. I didn't know what to say, but I thanked them," said Drinkwater.

Farley said Drinkwater was surprised, and had to reach out and steady himself a bit on the truck.

"That was kind of cool," said Farley. "And then he told us some stories about Alan Payson, and when he joined the department. Harold really likes to tell stories."

Drinkwater said what he likes most about being with the fire department is it has given him something to do. And he said he knows it's a big honor to have his name on a truck, because only one other person has had their name on a truck in Camden.

"The first thing I thought of when I saw what they had done was think of Peter Bryant. We had an old tanker truck that we named for Peter. He was an assistant chief with me, but he died young, unexpectedly. They never named another truck for someone, and then it sunk in," said Drinkwater.

Related stories:

• Camden firefighters get acquainted with new engine

• The Maine-Wisconsin connection: Who builds these fire trucks taxpayers buy?

(Video link courtesy Scott Entwistle)

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.