Local Firefighters Recognized for Trainings and Service

The crew that earned "Firefighter One" designations hold their helmets with Chief Michelle Weston and Mayor Suzanne LaFrance in the background. (Photo by Soren Wuerth)

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor 

A sunlit ceremony held Saturday for Girdwood firefighters began with an almost unwavering rendition of Star Spangled Banner by 10-year-old Madison Woods, a fifth-grader at the local school.

Firefighters in sharp, pleated outfits, some donning white dress caps, waited through commendations to receive badges recognizing milestones in their training. 

"You gave up your own time and energy to invest in yourselves and to help your community," Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said to firefighters and their families in Alyeska Hotel's Kalhitna Ballroom.

LaFrance noted that the 41-member force in Girdwood face particularly challenging terrain and a wintertime flood of people. Their coverage extends all along the Seward Highway and the department "protects a billion-dollars of critical infrastructure," she said.

Girdwood firefighter look on as Matt Martyn receives a pin for completing engineer training. (Photo by Soren Wuerth)

The ceremony marked the completion of anywhere from 160-180 training hours for various certificates depending on requirements ranging from EMT to paramedic to engineer. 

Firefighter rankings are signified by pins, from tools to bugles. As you climb ranks, the bugles go from silver to gold and become crossed and multiplied. A fire chief has five crossed gold bugles.

At Saturday's ceremony, four trainees earned their Firefighter One certificates, a commitment that involved strenuous exercises. 

"They spend their days sweating in firefighting gear and coming home still sore," said Capt.  Anna Ferntheil, a 12-year veteran in Girdwood's station, who trained the class.

Of this class, Ferntheil noted its sense of togetherness. She remembered a day of training after she had had an "awful" week. 

"We start each morning with bunker drills and I always begin with, 'How are you doing?' And one of [the firefighters] then asked, 'how are YOU doing?', Ferntheil said. The exchange helped open communication that can tend to be, instructionally, one-way. 

"The theme of this class was checking in, checking in on each other," Ferntheil said.

Others recognized for their service included Matt Martyn, who earned an "engineers" badge. Cormac Quinn and longtime firefighter Jeff Dobson—who came out of retirement to continue his service and had, in his years of service, trained many highly ranked Anchorage firefighters—were hailed for their work apprising residents of fire risks in the Firewise Home Assessment Program.

Despite the recognitions, Girdwood Fire Department is short staffed, said Chief Michelle Weston. 

Since young recruits are "at an age when they're starting families and buying homes" they have trouble serving in a town that has a tight and expensive housing market, Weston said.

Weston said she's had to "juggle" schedules to have enough staff on hand in the station. "It's math. It's a challenge," she said.

Not for a lack of interest, however. Girdwood Fire Department has nine people on a waitlist for three to four openings for an upcoming EMT1 class. Contact the Girdwood Fire Department if you want to be added to the list.

10-year-old Madison Woods sings the Star Spangled Banner to open the fire department's recognition ceremony. (Photo by Soren Wuerth)