The fire station was constructed in 1911 following Fred L. Savage’s design. The police station was added in 1989. The Great Fire of 1947 will always be remembered as the Bar Harbor Fire Department’s most daunting fight ever. For pure size, severity, high winds, heat, number of firefighters, and number of hours on the fire lines, this blaze stands out. Crews
never gave up. Not only did Chief David Sleeper and the local firefighters work 24-hour days, but many men and women also fought the fire, ran messages between the fire lines and headquarters, prepared meals and staffed telephones around the clock. Fire departments from all the island towns as well as distant communities sent men and equipment, including the Augusta National Guard unit and Dow Air Force Base in Bangor.