Chena-Goldstream Fire and Rescue seeks to raise $34,000 to purchase critical life-saving equipment. A recent fundraiser got off to a good start with a $1,000 donation from Julie Scott, right, President of the College Rotary Club to Jack Willard, left, CGFR Chief.

Money raised during the fundraiser that runs through the end of summer will help purchase thermal imaging cameras firefighters can use to quickly locate persons trapped inside burning buildings, smoke filled cars, or even near-drowning incidents. Presently, firefighters must use dangerous and time-consuming personal searches to locate victims. The fire department also will use money raised to purchase two new Rapid Intervention Team packs. The packs contain equipment that allows specially trained firefighters to quickly come to the aid of a firefighter in distress.

CGFR is a largely volunteer service that provides fire and emergency medical care to more than 8,500 people within an 80 square mile region north and west of Fairbanks, including Chena Ridge, Murphy Dome and Goldstream Valley.

To learn more or to contribute to this fundraiser, please contact Jason Davis, Captain, CGFR, 907-479-5672.

And now the news you've all been waiting for: The prestigious Geophysical Institute has presented geophysicist Guy Tytgat with their renowned Outstanding Community Service Award. We at CGFR are well acquainted with Mr. Tytgat in his roles as Battalion Chief, EMT and all around good guy (no pun intended). It is good to see his employer recognizes and supports the substantial volunteer effort he contributes to the community. Guy, humble as always, suggests he is no more deserving of the award than any other volunteer at CGFR. Apart from the fact he's the only responding CGFR volunteer working for the Geophysical Institute, he makes a lot of sense. Read more to see what the critically acclaimed "GI Weekly Newsletter" has to say about Guy's service. Congratulations, Guy!


photo by B. Wadlinger

An incredible effort was provided Saturday May 17 to complete the hose testing in record time. Some 9,400 feet of hose was tested, a new department record. What this means is there is no more hose testing in the next few weeks.

Here's a quick and dirty time-lapsed movie showing the progress made on the Station 3 Training Prop this last weekend. Talk to Jason if you'd like to be involved in the next construction phase. There are two more floors to be added and some walls.

The Firefighter I class has been working hard three days a week. Last Sunday they practiced throwing ladders and cutting ventilation holes all day. This is the most amazing firefighter class I've ever had the pleasure to teach. Thanks for all your hard work! Click here to see the fun we had.

If you could not make it to Tuesday night training you missed out. We had a small cookout before training and Doug Loshbaugh was promoted to Captain. So next time you see him make sure and congratulate him on a job well done.

We will again be providing First Aid and EMS coverage at the fair. The dates are AUGUST 3rd – AUGUST 11th. We will be covering the fair from 10am-midnight.

Free passes and meal coupons will be available for those persons pulling shift at the fair as have been provided in the past. I will distribute them as fairly as possible to those people covering the fair. Regular shifts 11am-6pm and 6pm-midnight.

As a general rule, for each shift pulled you get 2 day passes and 2 meal coupons worth $5.00 each. This may change depending on how many people sign up.

I would like to have at least (2) two people on duty at the fair at all times. EMT I’s and above are preferred, but CPR people are also eligible to sign-up. Those of you looking for patient contacts could get numerous pulling shifts at the fair.

Tearful 'See ya Later'...
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/18/2007 - 12:13pm.

I don't do good byes well... so I say 'See you later'! I can't even begin to explain what Chena Goldstream Fire and Rescue has meant to me over the past couple of years. I really wanted to get back up to the station after my return from Iraq..... but one thing after another led to my absence. I've missed you all MORE THAN you know! I bought a house in TX, sold my house here, am almost ready for the movers (they show up first thing Monday morning...) and slowly but surley getting all the youngens ready for the teadious trip by RV and van across the great U.S.!!! There will be a 'see ya later' trip for anyone that would like to come... it's at the Ski Lodge out at Eielson on the 26th of May... starting at 5PM and lasting til... well... let's just say I have the lodge overnight!! you can call my cell 978-2691 for directions!! I will do my absolute best to get up to the station one last time... but... the way things have been going... I can't promise... you have all touched my life in a tremendous way and I will never forget any of you... especially the extremely memorable day I got off that plane after a 4 and a half months absence to all your wonderful smiling welcoming faces!! WOW!!! YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!! Take care and keep in touch!!!

The new pagers are in and can be picked up at sta-2. You will need to sign next to your name and pick up the one that matches the C-number on the line with your name. Dispatch is working on loading then into there console at this time I will do a general page letting everyone know when they are working.

Lt Voorhis & Firefighter Berne completing the primer coat on Station 3's bay.
The job of painting Station 3 is nearly complete. More than 20 department members pitched in during the past 2 weeks to tackle the monumetal job of applying more than 100 gallons of paint to the more than 15,000 square feet of walls and ceilings. They did a great job in getting it done so quickly and so well! Lt Voorhis went beyond the call of duty, spending the better part of 5 days or nights a week to get the job done. The list of all the others who worked so hard is too long to list here, but Earl deserves special recognition for putting in over 60 hours on the job. Thanks Earl! And thank you to all the others.