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WILTON – The Wilton Fire and Rescue Department is mourning the loss of one of its own.
After months of battling a terminal illness, Deputy Fire Chief Kendall Burdin, 64, died at noon Monday. In his final act of service for his town, the veteran firefighter of 47 years supervised one last firemen’s muster and led the 28th annual Blueberry Festival parade Saturday morning.
Sitting next to Burdin as he drove the restored 1929 McCann fire truck in the parade on Saturday, Fire Chief Sonny Dunham said of Burdin today, “he dedicated his whole life to his family and fire service. He was a big asset and it will take more than one person to do all the things he did for the department.”
Burdin was well known by fire departments across the state for his involvement in firefighter training sessions and the Learn Not To Burn program for school children. He served with the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, was president of the Franklin County Firemen’s Association, and an expert training officer for fire trucks and equipment.
On July 22, members of Wilton’s Fire and Rescue Department surprised Burdin with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Burdin had spent 47 years serving in the Wilton, Strong and Phillips fire departments.
“Your lifetime commitment will serve as an ongoing inspiration to all of us (always),” the plaque said.
Wilton Selectman Paul Gooch said he knew Burdin to be a “great public servant.”
“He contributed to the community for more than 40 years,” Gooch said today. “It’s a great loss and we’re very saddened.” He added it was great he had last weekend where he was the parade leader and oversaw the firemen’s muster. That muster was officially named in honor of him this year, and will from now on be known as the annual Kendall Burdin Blueberry Festival Firemen’s Muster, said festival organizer Shannon Smith.
“We’re devastated,” Smith said. She learned of his ill health many months ago and had hoped, as many did, Burdin would make one more Blueberry Festival. He didn’t disappoint.
To read his obituary, click here.
Kendall you did it. “THANKS”
We are all pleased to have you in Big Red lead the 28th Wilton Blueberry Festival parade.
You will be remembered by many here and for all your work with the fire departments. Thanks for being part of our community and all you have done. Prayers go out to your family, friends and the Wilton Fire Department.
R.I.P. Old buddy!
I never had the priveledge to meet this man, but it sounds like he was an inspiring individual and quite an asset to the community. How fitting that he was able to lead the Bluberry Festival parade doing what he loved, only days before his passing.. May peace be with you and your family, Mr.Burdin. ~God Speed~
R.I.P Kendall you will be missed by everybody and everybody you know. You will NEVER be forgotten.
Kendall, Wilton 309 wanted me to tell you, “Good job well done my friend”. You can go 10-7 now.
Kendall, thank you for making our town a safer place. We’ll miss you.
Kendall, you will be missed. A great example of public service. We need more of you.
What an amazing person who gave words of wisdom, even in his last days. Kendall, your conversation on Saturday with my husband gave him what he needed – the strength to reconsider joining a new FD, your words to him, not to let the past keep him from his passion and him hearing you tell him that he was a great firefighter was what he needed. Its been a year and a half since he had to say goodbye to the WFD after six years of fighting beside you and others he care for; and I can honestly say that its been hard being by his side knowing how much he is missing helping the community and not being able to help him, but more or less blaming myself for it all. So, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the time you spent talking and giving words or wisdom, support and encouragement to him. You will always be in my husband’s heart. I thank you for your committment to the community and to your family. I know your girls will miss you but I can also tell you that you did a great job with them. They too have big hearts! God bless! Heaven has just been given a new angel and I truly believe you will be putting out fires up there :)
As part of the WFD family for my whole life, I had the privilege of knowing Kendall quite well. What an amazing man. His life revolved around his family and his extended family at the fire house. He would do anything for anyone and served as a great mentor to two of my family members. I can remember many stories from over the years about Kendall and most of them make me laugh becuase of just how vibrant his personality was and the “havoc” he caused all in good fun. Kendall always made it a point to speak to my son whenever we were at the station or anywhere in public. It always touched my heart because I had known Kendall at such a young age as well and my son was always so responsive to his greetings. I can still hear him saying hello to my little man.
Although he will be sadly missed, I’m sure all of us seek comfort in knowing that he is no longer suffering and that he was able to fulfill one last dream of being at the Blueberry Festival….a festival that will no longer be the same for me without his voice over the load speaker at the muster.
Ann, Jana & Jessica – Your husband/father was a wonderful man….someone I will never forget. I can only hope that one day Gage is the amazing firefighter and family man Kendall was.
I have known Kendall and his family since 1982 and He was a wonderful dedicated man to his family and community. I was shocked to read of his passing today but he was able to do his final job as a firefighter to the community on Saturday at the blueberry festival. He is pain free and suffering no more and is an angel firefighter with GOD and is watching over all of Wilton and the state of Maine. THANKS FOR A GOOD JOB WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT> Being a part of dispatch back in 1983 with 309 I got to know Kendal and his family well. As I said many times on the radio Thanks for a good job well done . Have a great day or evening. May his family accept my condolences at the time of thier loss. GOD BLESS YOU ALL
Kendall has been a part of my family my whole life. I and my sister grew up as part of the wfd family. my father being a firefighter himself as well as the fire chief now. Kendall definetly knew his “firefighter business” that’s for sure!! I always loved hearing stories of “the good ole days” that’s when there were no rules really ! I can remember kendall still telling some of those stories and laughing about some of the crazy things they used to do!! I know us other firefighter generation coming up in the fire service have great respect for a man like kendall. He was very passionate you could tell. It used to make me laugh sometimes because if he got mad or wound up about something fire related his ears would be flaming red!! You never really know or realize how much you take for granted until that person is gone… WFD is deeply saddened by his passing but we know that he fought a long hard battle… he deserves to be at peace now. We will miss him dearly The station almost has an eery silence and emptiness to it. I know that he will be down there playing “pranks” on us I’m sure!! I am positive and sure that his spirit and soul will be a strong warrior on the other side! i have learned so much from him in my own firefighting experince and will cherish all the wonderful memories. we are all so blessed to have known such a wonderful person.Kendall we will continue to make you proud of us (just like you said to us that day of the blueberry festival ) and we love you and we will never forget…. May you be surrounded by light and love! Blessed be!
What a great man Kendall was. And even still his spirit lives on! He was truly a dedicated man, and so driven. He was determined to make it longer than the docs gave him, and boy did he! My heart goes out to the Burdin family. Ann, we love you!