Chena-Goldstream Fire & Rescue began as a grassroots operation more than 30 years ago and evolved into a subscription-based service in which homeowners were glad to pay $250 per year for a measure of protection.
The system came under fire when a few homes belonging to nonsubscribers burned. Department volunteers were placed in the impossible position of having to refuse to respond, then faced critics who said they should have done something regardless of subscription status.