MOUNT VERNON -- In 1973, 20-year-old Dana Dunn became one of the youngest fire chiefs in Maine, if not the country, winning election on the promise of a new fire truck.

Thirty-five years later, Dunn is still fighting fires and delivering on promises.

Recognized for his years of service at the Mount Vernon Fire Department's annual awards banquet last week, Dunn said he's seen a lot of changes since he's served as fire chief.

At the time of his election, the department had two trucks -- pumpers built in 1934 and 1954 -- and a $1,200 budget. "Red phones" were used to answer emergency calls: one by the local telephone operator, another by Dunn's father at home, and one at the country store.

"Dispatch" meant pressing a button to ring the siren in the village and a "call list" system to notify those firemen out of earshot.

There was no bathroom at the station, but outhouses were available.

The Fire Department also provided primary service to Vienna, until residents there formed their own department in the mid-1970s.

Dunn laughs when describing other efforts developing a modern fire department. Once, in attempting to improve communication with firefighters at fire scenes, the department built a handmade generator with a truck battery and alternator that allowed the department to run a mobile radio at the station.

Prior to that, if additional support was needed, someone had to borrow a phone near the scene to call the station.

Dunn said fire chiefs in the region always "hung together," in the early years, looking for ways to improve operations in their departments.

That cooperative relationship led to the founding of the Lakes Region Mutual Aid Company, a cooperative group of six towns -- Fayette, Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Vienna and Wayne -- that share resources "to protect the lives and property of our member towns or anywhere a call goes out for help."

The Mount Vernon Fire Company was formed in 1980 as a way to improve operations without asking the taxpayers for more money, Dunn said.

Fundraising efforts were used to purchase supplemental equipment such as a four-wheel ATV now used for brush-fire access. Fire Company funds were also used to purchase and renovate the building that now houses the rescue van -- services that were added under the Fire Department umbrella in 1981.

According to Dunn, more than half the money used to renovate the fire station in 2002 came from the Fire Company. The company also offers an annual scholarship to any Mount Vernon student in their first year of college.

Dunn, who joined the Fire Department at age 15, said he's tried to bring to the job of fire chief a focus on improving training and equipment.

But growth hasn't come easily.

"People have a misconception that the equipment are toys for the firemen," he said -- an impression likely fueled by the fact that much of the department, he said, is related to him in some way.

His brother, Lee, joined the Fire Department, with Dana, in 1968 and has been his deputy chief for the past 34 years.

His son, Matt, worked for the department and now is fire chief in Readfield.

The current assistant fire chief is Tony Dunn, Lee's son and Dana's nephew.

The challenge of working with your "brothers and sisters" is similar to any family business, Dana Dunn said, adding that the support of his family has been key to the Fire Department's success.

He gave special credit to his wife, Judy, who has dealt with fire emergencies every day of her marriage; she and Dana were married the same year he was elected fire chief.

Judy Dunn said she knew the workings of the Fire Department before she married Dana: Her grandfather and an uncle both served terms as fire chief.

Dunn continues to push for funding for the Fire Department.

He said that while the goal is to save lives and property, "We can only fight fire with what townspeople give us."

To his son, Matt, now Readfield fire chief, he gives this advice: "You can have 95 people that support you 100 percent and 4 or 5 that don't. And those few can bring your down. You can't take it to heart. You have to learn not to let it bother you."

Although the time commitment varies, Dunn says he puts in hours every day as chief.

He pointed out that, at $2,000 per year, he is among the lowest paid fire chiefs in the region, but was quick to add that it's not about the money.

"I enjoy it," he said, "the challenges ... meeting new people."

He said working with his crew makes the job worthwhile. And when he talks about the firefighters and other staff, his respect is apparent.

"You don't take advantage of volunteers," he said. "You find their strengths and put them to work, but you don't push them to give more than they can."

Department training officer Cam Weaver said most local fire departments have seen a half-dozen fire chiefs in the time Dunn has led Mount Vernon's department.

Weaver said Dunn is well respected by other fire chiefs, who look to Dunn for leadership at the "fire-ground," tapping his experience and ability to see the big picture, anticipate needs and delegate.

A plaque presented to Dunn last week by his department contains the Pierce logo from that first truck, slated to be retired as soon as a newly purchased truck is delivered.

The plaque reads: "Chief Dana Dunn said if he was voted chief in 1973, he would help us get a new fire truck and he did--a 1973 Pierce pumper. The truck is now retired but Chief Dunn has many miles left."