BIOGRAPHY

Born in 1861 in Waldoboro, Maine.

On January 5, 1899, he was appointed Permanent Driver of Steam Engine 5, at the Central Fire Station, located at 380 Congress Street, on the corner of Market Street.  Driver Kent was promoted to Captain July 5, 1910 and assigned to Peak’s Island’s Hose Co. 1, which was renamed Hose Co. 12 in 1913.  

In 1920, Captain Kent was transferred to the mainland to command Steam Engine Co. 6, located at 295 Park Avenue.

On May 21st, 1921, at 2:10 in the afternoon, a General Alarm was struck for a fire at the 4-story Deering High School on Stevens Avenue, built in 1897 by the City of Deering.  The Captain and other firefighters were operating hose lines from ground ladders in the front of the building.  Without warning, a section of the roof and the front center wall collapsed, sweeping them from ladders and showering them with blazing debris and bricks.  Seven injured firemen were taken to St. Barnabas hospital on Woodford Street.

Captain Kent, age 60, was killed when buried beneath the bricks.  He was survived by his wife Mary, daughter Nerissa and son Edger.

Captain Kent was buried in an unknown cemetery in Rockland.