CGFR is recruiting for a temporary paid Captain's position. This position may become a permanent position in the future. If you are interested in applying for the job, the attached job description and application are available for download. Applications and answers to the questions appended to the job description must be received (not just postmarked!) no later than 5:00pm, Friday, August 13, 2010. Applicants may mail their application to

CGFR
PO Box 80487
Fairbanks, AK 99708

or fax them to (907)479-5858. We look forward to seeing your application!

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has an article on CGFRs team entry in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's SCOTT Stair Climb Challenge.

On Sunday, March 7, 2010 more than 1,500 firefighters from 250 departments across the Pacific Northwest and beyond competed in this timed race to the top "69 floors" of the Columbia Center in Seattle, Washington, in full combat gear and self contained breathing apparati (SCBA). This unique event is the largest individual firefighter competition in the world.
This Race is the SCOTT Stair Climb Challenge, held every year in Seattle, Washington, with all procedes going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

What:
Chief Willard, CPT Donaldson and myself are excited to announce a CGFR
"Health Fair". This will consist of lipid testing, fasting blood glucose,
and physical fitness testing. You are strongly encouraged to participate
in any or all of the tests being offered. (The department is paying for
the testing!)

Saturday at Station 3 nine CGFR members spent a portion of their day playing in the snow. We began indoors with a brief lecture while Craig waited for the sun to warm things up outside. The temperature eventually rose to a balmy 15 degrees! Exiting the building in appropriate snow suits, the "moles" began piling snow and "working" it thoroughly. A well deserved break was taken to learn and practice our fire starting skills. (Craig was complaining he was cold, and we wanted to help him warm up).

Everyone in attendance got a blazing inferno started in short order. The Chief so enjoyed his fire, started with steel wool and a nine volt battery. Gordon wanted to rub two sticks together, and Craig wanted to break out the propane torch. We all suggested alternative techniques to them both. After warming by the fires, we began excavating into our snow piles, borrowing in like moles. Everyone succeeded in building a version of a shelter that would work to survive in (some more comfortably than others).

Craig spent the night in his Athabascan quincee, and survived to whine about it! Cory made the most innovative shelter, and reported he spent the night quite warm and comfortable wrapped in a fleece blanket. "I don't need no stinking sleeping bag" he was reported to say. And then there was Alyssa... She cut a few spruce boughs, laid them on top of the snow, and settled into her bed for a comfortable sleep under the stars. She allegedly said "It's warm outside tonight; this will be just fine". God bless Alyssa for her ability to keep us all humble.

Mahlon Green, the Public Education Coordinator for the Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety, sends along the following important information for everyone's benefit:

Every January many Alaskans reflect on the previous year and try to make "New Year resolutions" to make changes in the new year. Some examples would be to lose weight, spend more time with the family, get a new job, exercise more, etc. Mahlon Greene, Public Education Coordinator for the Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety would like to offer a "New Year resolution" that might save you and your family’s life in 2010. "I will install, test and maintain smoke alarms on each floor, in each bedroom, and outside all sleeping areas in my home".

Greene says smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. "Smoke alarms detect and alert people to fire in its early stages, giving people the time needed to escape safely," says Greene. "That’s why it’s so important for every home to have them in all recommended locations, including bedrooms."

Twenty two Alaskans lost their lives in fires in 2009. All of these fires were in homes and the most alarming statistic is that 16 out of the 22 fatalities were in homes with no smoke alarms installed. Greene added, "Working smoke alarms might have alerted these victims in time to escape the fire".

The Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety offers the following tips for making sure the smoke alarms in your home are maintained and working properly:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
• If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they’re ten years old (or sooner) if they do not respond properly when tested.
• Draw an escape plan for your home and practice it regularly by activating your smoke alarms.
• Sign up for free monthly email reminders to test your smoke alarms at http://www.akburny.com.

Alaska residents with questions and/or concerns about the updated smoke alarm recommendations may contact the Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety at (907) 746-5062 or visit their web site http://www.burny.alaska.gov.

For More Information:
Mahlon Greene, Public Education Coordinator
Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety
(907) 746-5062
mahlon.greene@alaska.gov

Yes, what you have heard is true. I am resigning my paid Deputy Fire Chief position effective 0900 on September 27th. I have been offered and accepted a position at the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the Emergency Operations Department as the Administrator.

This was a very hard decision for me to make. Believe me, it was not an easy task. In the end, it is the best for me and my family. I have put many years into the department in many different capacities. I DO PLAN to stay on the department as a Chief Officer as a VOLUNTEER.

Chena-Goldstream Fire and Rescue recently took delivery of a state -of-the-art, electronic defibrillator, called the Zoll E series AED. The device delivers a precise level of electric shock to the heart in order to re-establish a correct heart rhythm.

On its first day on the job, the device saved the life of a Fairbanks woman.

According to Chena-Goldstream Fire and Rescue, Emergency Medical Technician's (EMT) responded to a female with chest pain. After assessing the patient, she was placed on the new Zoll E AED and transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. During the transport the defibrillator recognized that the patient was experiencing cardiac arrest. The medical staff quickly engaged the defibrillator to deliver an appropriate shock, which put the patient into normal cardiac rhythm. The patient was awake and talking to the crew by the time the ambulance reached the hospital.

"Our medical crews had just a few days earlier finished training with the equipment," explained CGFR Chief Jack Willard. "We are gratified that the equipment worked as advertised, and proud of the men and women who knew how to use it."

The Zoll E AED has features not available in earlier models to analyze the rhythm during CPR, and advise the crew if they are performing proper CPR while in a moving ambulance.

The equipment, however, does not come cheap. The department received a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to purchase two Zoll E AEDs, each at a cost of $31,000 each. The department's share of the purchase was $6,000.

"This is an example of how we are maximizing local tax revenue to stay current with training and technology that proves itself in saving lives and protecting property," said Chief Willard.

Another recent purchase was a 2009 Ford ambulance. The ambulance has new features that will enhance the safety of both the EMT and the patient.

Chena-Goldstream Fire and Rescue is a largely volunteer service that provides fire response and emergency medical care to more than 12,000 people within an 160 square mile region north and west of Fairbanks, including Chena Ridge, Murphy Dome, Goldstream Valley and Ester.

For more information, please contact CGFR at 907-479-5672.

The Annual Awards banquet recognized volunteer and staff with long histories in the Department.

• Five Year awards were presented to Robert Anderson, Veronica Solomon, Hilmar Maier and Jesse Wood.
• Robert Ragar was presented with a Twenty Year award.
• CGFR's very first 25 year member, David Akin, was recognized.
• And a big "Hello!" to all the new members in 2008: responders Forrest Baumfalk, Tallan Baumfalk, Nathan Carey, Ryan Cary, Craig Donaldson, Mary Knight, Katrin Nilsen, Stephen Shoults, Brad Stone and Leia Ward. Two new Board members, Doug Schneider and Joel Duncan, are welcomed, too. We hope to be here when you receive your ten and twenty year awards.

Thanks again to everyone who keeps CGFR running! You're the lifeblood of the Department.