Vanessa Paolella

2 posts

Vanessa Paolella is an intern, through a partnership with Bates College, for The Maine Monitor. She twice interned with the Sun Journal as a general assignment reporter. Vanessa is a 2021 graduate of Bates College, where she studied geology and led the transition to digital-first publication of The Bates Student as editor in chief. She now works full-time for the Sun Journal covering local education.

A firefighter's uniform sits and hangs in a locker within the Thorndike station.

11 min

‘Ghost stations’ in rural Maine mask depth of firefighter shortage

Bowdoin, Thorndike and other communities list active departments, but they’re only a firefighter or two away from being unable to respond.

ByVanessa Paolella

October 10, 2021

Biddeford fire truck outside of its fire house.

9 min

Lack of data stymies efforts to address firefighter shortage

While Maine call volumes rise and firefighter ranks thin, leaders sound the alarm for solutions at the local level.

ByVanessa Paolella

August 15, 2021