Funeral service information was released for the Berwick (ME) Fire Captain Joel Barnes, who died in the line of duty last week.
On March 1, 2019, Captain Joel Barnes, 32, was one of five firefighters who went into a three-story apartment building to fight a four-alarm fire. While inside the structure, conditions rapidly worsened. Three of the firefighters were able to escape. Barnes and one other firefighter became trapped in a room of a third-floor apartment. While waiting to be rescued, Barnes reportedly used his body to shield the other firefighter from the intense fire. Upon rescue, Barnes was unresponsive, and EMTs and other colleagues immediately performed life-saving measures on him. Barnes was then transported to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital where he was pronounced deceased from the injuries he sustained. The four other firefighters were treated and released by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.
According to information from Billy Goldfeder of FirefighterCloseCalls.com, the memorial service will be held Sunday at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland beginning at 1100 hours. A private family Mass will be held Sunday prior to the public ceremony.
Immediately following the services, a procession will go to Calvary Cemetery in South Portland where Captain Barnes will be buried with full departmental honors.
From the department’s Facebook page:
Berwick Fire & Rescue Chief Dennis Plante and Town Manager Stephen G. Eldridge announce funeral, memorial service and burial arrangements for Berwick Fire Captain Joel Barnes.
Services and burial will take place on Sunday, March 10. There will be two services: A private family mass and a public memorial ceremony.
The family will attend a Catholic funeral mass, which will be said at a local church early in the morning. That service is only for family and is closed to the news media. The family has asked that their privacy be respected.
Memorial Service
The details of the public fire service memorial are as follows:
WHEN:
Sunday, March 10, 2018
11 a.m.
WHERE:
Cross Insurance Arena
1 Civic Center Square
Portland, ME 04101
Venue fee was partially waived by management, and the balance has been paid for by Teamsters Local 340, of which Berwick firefighters are members.
MEDIA LOGISTICS
Several thousand people are expected in attendance.
Media logistics, including parking, credentialing, and assigned location(s) in the Arena will be announced, likely tomorrow.
BURIAL
A procession of approximately two miles will follow to Cavalry Cemetery, where Captain Barnes will be buried with full fire department honors. The burial service is private for family members and the Berwick Fire Department.
ATTN. OUT OF TOWN FIREFIGHTERS
Logistics, including hotel accommodations, staging, and mustering of out of town firefighters is expected to be announced on Wednesday.
OUT OF TOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTENDANCE FORM
Fire departments planning to attend the funeral are kindly asked to fill out an online form to better five organizers an idea of attendance numbers.
PIPES AND DRUMS/COLOR GUARDS
Any pipe and drum bands or color guards wishing to participate in the services should click here to fill out an online form.
Pipe bands with questions can also contact Dave McLean of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire Pipes and Drums: (603-661-1940 or macdfd@aol.com)
MUTUAL AID CONTINUES
Mutual aid station coverage for Berwick has been provided by ambulance companies and fire departments from across Maine and New Hampshire, and that assistance will continue through at least Sunday.
VIGIL CONTINUES
Firefighters have maintained their 24-hour constant vigil over the body of Captain Barnes, and that will continue uninterrupted until Sunday.
FUND ESTABLISHED
The family of Captain Barnes requests that any donations being made in his name go to the Berwick Volunteer Firefighters Association in his memory c/o Kennebunk Saving Bank, 2 School St., Berwick, ME 03901.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES
This is the latest of several updates that will be distributed as new information becomes available.
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