Fire Department

With an anticipated $30 million deficit looming, the Anchorage Fire Department could see Station 15 shut down and lose a full service truck in Eagle River.  Critics say that's a reduction not seen since the 1980's. "We will be seeing historic cuts to the Anchorage fire department,” said IAFF Local member Nick Glorioso.  “And the service the Anchorage Fire Department can provide to the community, whether it's shutting down a fire engines or fire stations. " Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan counters the department has been spared in the past four budgets since he's been in office.

by Ashton Goodell Wednesday, February 24, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The firefighters union says it's just starting to see cuts made to the fire department's wilderness rescue program. The city cut the services during the budget process to make up for some of the city's budget shortfall. The fire department had to disband its mountain rescue and inlet rescue teams and temporarily shut down the swift water rescue team during the winter when such rescues are uncommon.

The Anchorage Fire Department confirmed Thursday that Deputy Chief Doug Schrage is stepping down. In July, Deputy Chief Michelle Weston also left the department. Schrage served as interim fire chief in 2009 before current Chief Mark Hall took charge. Schrage is said to be taking a job as chief of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' fire department. Schrage's last day with AFD will be Sept. 16. Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com

A fire at an Anchorage sushi restaurant closed the business for the next few months. The Anchorage Fire Department received a call that smoke was coming from the rear of Sushi Garden on Huffman Road at about 2 a.m on Sunday. When crews arrived, there was heavy smoke inside the building and a fire in the kitchen. The fire was contained in the kitchen, but the building received heavy smoke damage. Restaurant owner Daniel Blair said the building will take four to six months to rebuild.

A private helicopter rescued a fisherman stranded on a sinking boat Wednesday morning. The Anchorage Fire Department received a call around 7:30 a.m. that a Bayliner was sinking around the Birchwood-Peters Creek area. Officials said they were unsure whether the incident was beyond the range of their water rescue service, so they put a call out for any additional support. A good Samaritan answered the call and the victim was pulled out of the water. The Port of Anchorage also volunteered one of their vessels for the fire department to use to get out to the scene.

by Rebecca Palsha Sunday, May 9, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A fire destroyed a Chugiak house Sunday afternoon, leaving a family of five without a home. The Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department says the fire started about 1 p.m. Sunday on Tundra Rose Avenue. The people inside -- two adults, two children and a baby -- were able to escape and firefighters saved four dogs and a bird, but officials say several other animals died in the fire. The homeowners were active in animal rescue and had been housing the animals until they could find permanent homes.

The Anchorage Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the Jewel Lake area Tuesday morning. AFD said the owner safely got out of his house along the 9200 block of Shorecrest Drive, but his detached garage is a total loss. An Anchorage Police officer who lives in the neighborhood spotted smoke while on his way to work around 6:15 a.m. and alerted the Fire Department, AFD spokesman Al Tamagni said.  The neighborhood does not have fire hydrants so arriving AFD crews had to lay hose to reach a water source a few blocks away.

On Saturday, what looked like a crime scene at the Dimond Center, wasn't one at all. Public Safety officials showed off their bomb squad robot, SWAT truck and fire engines to get a buzz going around about new positions at the Anchorage fire and police departments. "The best tool that we have is to get out and let folks see what it is we do on a day to day basis," Anchorage police officer Ryan Rockom said. "I think the community can take heart in the fact that we're doing everything we can to make sure the people that we do recruit are of the highest caliber.

The Anchorage Fire Department said one man critical but stable condition after what witnesses describe as a speeding spree that side-swiped cars and uprooted a handful of trees. Crews responded to the intersection of Peck Avenue and Zappa Place just before 1 a.m. Thursday morning. The fire department said it appears the driver, 27-year-old Walter Thomas Harris sped down Zappa and damaged a dumpster, fence, home, and car and then sped down Peck Avenue, where he hit several trees.

On Saturday, what looked like a crime scene at the Dimond Center, wasn't one at all. Public Safety officials showed off their bomb squad robot, SWAT truck and fire engines to get a buzz going around about new positions at the Anchorage fire and police departments. "The best tool that we have is to get out and let folks see what it is we do on a day to day basis," Anchorage police officer Ryan Rockom said. "I think the community can take heart in the fact that we're doing everything we can to make sure the people that we do recruit are of the highest caliber.

A fish processing ship sitting in the Kodiak harbor, spilled an estimated 150 gallons of diesel fuel on Saturday. The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Detachment responded to the leak from the vessel Pacific Producer. Officials with the Kodiak harbormaster, Kodiak Fire Department and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation were also part of the response. Petty Officer Guy Hughey said the fuel leaked inside of the ship before a portion of it was pumped into the harbor.

A Chuathbaluk man was arrested by Alaska State Troopers after he allegedly fired a rifle in the air during a Thursday altercation at his father's home, then escalated the situation by burning the house down. According to a Friday AST dispatch, 26-year-old Arnold Simeon Jr. reported shortly after 8:30 a.m. Thursday that a 19-year-old man had just assaulted him at the home, on Main Road. “Simeon initially reported that (the 19-year-old) became enraged and physically attacked him in addition to pointing a .22 caliber rifle at his head and 'strangling' him,” troopers wrote.

A Seattle hospital said Tuesday that a 60-year-old Palmer man died after he was severely burned in an Oct. 3 trash fire, according to the state Division of Fire and Life Safety. Division spokesperson Mahlon Greene says in a Thursday statement that the unnamed victim was initially taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center by a family member, without 911 assistance. He was then taken to Harborview due to the extent of his burns, but succumbed to his injuries. “Because 911 was not activated, there was no response by the fire department or local (emergency medical services)

With an anticipated $30 million deficit looming, the Anchorage Fire Department could see Station 15 shut down and lose a full service truck in Eagle River.  Critics say that's a reduction not seen since the 1980's. "We will be seeing historic cuts to the Anchorage fire department,” said IAFF Local member Nick Glorioso.  “And the service the Anchorage Fire Department can provide to the community, whether it's shutting down a fire engines or fire stations. " Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan counters the department has been spared in the past four budgets since he's been in office.

Water ways have become increasingly dangerous and the Anchorage Fire Department is urging people to take caution. Fast moving waters have moved huge trees and boulders in the Eagle River, causing changes to the banks. AFD officials say that even if you think you're familiar with an area to be careful because many banks are becoming undercut by swift moving water. The river already claimed two lives earlier this summer and rescue crews say there are no signs of the danger subsiding.

A fire at an Anchorage sushi restaurant closed the business for the next few months. The Anchorage Fire Department received a call that smoke was coming from the rear of Sushi Garden on Huffman Road at about 2 a.m on Sunday. When crews arrived, there was heavy smoke inside the building and a fire in the kitchen. The fire was contained in the kitchen, but the building received heavy smoke damage. Restaurant owner Daniel Blair said the building will take four to six months to rebuild.

In the wake of 2 boating accidents on the Eagle River this summer, the Anchorage Fire Department is issuing a warning to those who use the river: Always wear a life jacket. That reminder comes after a Wasilla mother's life was -- in all probability --- saved by her life vest, wet suit and helmet when she was ejected from her raft over the weekend (Saturday). Young Mark Patrick, of Palmer, dove into the water after his mother after she was thrown from their raft. It came to a sudden stop in the swift current when it got hung-up on a rock formation called, "The Dragon's Teeth.

Anchorage firefighters rushed to a condo complex in the Muldoon area Friday night. A fire broke out around 8:15 p.m. in a six-plex at 8508 Boundary Avenue, in the Alpine Village Condos.     The blaze started in one of the upstairs units and residents of nearby buildings said heavy smoke was seen coming from the roof until firefighters knocked down the flames. The fire department is still investigating the cause, but a member of the condo association board said it started in the kitchen of a unit where the renters were evicted Friday.

The Anchorage Fire Department said one man critical but stable condition after what witnesses describe as a speeding spree that side-swiped cars and uprooted a handful of trees. Crews responded to the intersection of Peck Avenue and Zappa Place just before 1 a.m. Thursday morning. The fire department said it appears the driver, 27-year-old Walter Thomas Harris sped down Zappa and damaged a dumpster, fence, home, and car and then sped down Peck Avenue, where he hit several trees.