Alaska

What's New at AKPFFA

Legislature passes Alaska presumptive bill

Updated On: Apr 15, 2008 (22:58:00)

PRESS RELEASE

Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association

Mark Drygas,

President

Matt McSorley, Sec./Treasurer

April 12, 2008

Yesterday, April 11, the Alaska Senate passed House Bill 200 which will provide presumptive coverage for fire fighters who contract certain defined cancers and for respiratory and cardiac diseases associated with firefighting.

“This is a huge step forward for our young state association” said Association President Mark Drygas. “From the outset of our formation, we were determined to work across party lines and focus solely on fire fighter issues. We were active in the last election cycle and our efforts have paid off by seeing passage of this legislation with bipartisan support.”

This was truly a statewide effort requiring the cooperation of each local, from Ketchikan in the south to Local 4505 in North Pole. The effort was directed by AKPFFA Legislative Director, Jeff Briggs (L1264, Anchorage).

By law, the 90-day legislature adjourns on April 13. As of April 3, HB 200 had not made it to the house floor, let alone the Senate Finance Committee and on to the Senate floor. “The so called capitol experts were saying we were through – with over 100 bills sitting in Senate Finance, our cause was lost. We had run out of time. But they did not account for the fact that we are firefighters - we don’t back down. We pressed forward using every possible means to keep the legislation moving.” says Drygas. “Jeff’s work all session and especially in that final week has earned both him and firefighters tremendous respect on ‘the hill’ as the capitol in Alaska is referred to.”

On April 4 the bill passed the House 32-3 (out of 40). We were able to have the bill heard in the Senate Finance Committee on the 10^th and on April 11 the bill passed the senate 18-2 (of 20). “The large victory margins are in no way indicative of the hard fought battle it took to get to the respective floors. The Alaska Joint Insurance Association fought us all the way. In the end though - only five legislators out of 60 voted against the firefighters.”

The bill now awaits Governor Sarah Palin’s signature.

Work on legislative activity in Alaska is expensive and requires a large time commitment. The capitol, Juneau, is accessible only by air or sea. Jeff’s lobbying activities, and the assistance of other members required almost weekly flights to the capitol city. This year the AKPFFA held their first ever legislative conference and were joined by 7^th District Vice-President, Ricky Walsh, at their first annual legislative reception. The reception featured Whiskey Drunken Alaska Spot Shrimp prepared by Juneau Local 4303 and was the talk of the capitol the following day.

The Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association is looking forward to hosting the Spring 2008 Conference of the Federation of State and Provincial Professional Fire Fighters Association in Anchorage, May 21, 22, 23.

Fairbanks Fire Fighters Welcome Gov Palin

Updated On: Apr 15, 2008 (22:09:00)

Large Fire in Downtown Anchorage

Posted On: Jun 11, 2007 (08:59:58)
Massive fire at Park Place Condos

June 5, 2007 11:48 PM


Anchorage fire crews are still on scene this hour attacking a blaze that erupted at a Park Place Condominiums Downtown just before 3:30 p.m. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-TV)

Officials have closed I Street and the intersection of 12th Avenue and K Street and are asking the public to stay out of the area. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-TV)

Fueled by strong winds, the fire grew and a massive black cloud that seared the Anchorage skyline. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-TV)

Mark Butler with the Anchorage Health Department said other residents in the area need to take precautions. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-TV)

Fire officials said everyone was evacuated from the building as far as they know. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-TV)

by Megan Baldino
Tuesday, June 5, 2007

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Anchorage fire crews are still on scene this hour attacking a blaze that erupted at a Park Place Condominiums Downtown just before 3:30 p.m.

Fire crews are still battling with a fire at 12th Avenue and I Street. Officials have closed I Street and the intersection of 12th Avenue and K Street and are asking the public to stay out of the area.

Early this afternoon people were spraying down there homes to try and protect themselves against the smoke and ash blowing across town.

Fire fighters are now attacking the fire from on top of the building, trying to get it under control.

Anchorage Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Tom Kempton said firefighters worked to clear the building.

"We've got firefighters, their initial attempts were to get in and make sure everyone was out of all the apartments. There's a large amount of elderly and disabled people that live in this condominium project and wanted to make sure everyone was out of the units," Kempton said.

Fueled by strong winds, the fire grew and a massive black cloud that seared the Anchorage skyline.

Mark Butler with the Anchorage Health Department said other residents in the area need to take precautions.

"The health department has asked buildings Downtown, where the smoke is going obviously, to turn off their HVIC systems so the air doesn't get into the buildings as much. We're also asking people in the crowds around this area and the residents if they have respiratory problems of any sort to not stay and watch the fire." Butler said.

Fire officials said everyone was evacuated from the building as far as they know.

The Red Cross is on the scene and working to gather people in the conference room of the nearby Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites.

Kempton said the fourth floor of the northwest condominium building is likely a total loss. He said the blaze was likely started by a plumber who was doing some wielding work on the fourth fire when he caught something on fire.

Megan Baldino is a reporter and anchor for Channel 2 News. Contact her at mbaldino@ktuu.com

Capital City Fire Local 4303 members keep a church fire from consuming historic downtown

Updated On: Apr 17, 2006 (00:12:00)
Early morning fire destroys 110-year-old Juneau church
LANDMARK: Built in 1896, structure was a capital cornerstone.

Capital City Fire & Rescue firefighters battle an early morning blaze that destroyed the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau, Alaska, on Sunday, March 12, 2006. The church was built in 1896 and was the second oldest church structure in town. It is registered as an National Historical Landmark. No injuries were reported. (Photo by MICHAEL PENN / Juneau Empire via The Associated Press)

By ANNE SUTTON
The Associated Press

(Published: March 13, 2006)

JUNEAU -- A Sunday morning fire engulfed Juneau's second-oldest church and burned the 110-year-old National Historic Landmark to its foundation.

The pre-dawn fire destroyed Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, a center of community life in downtown Juneau, along with a neighboring house.

No injuries were reported.

The fire started after 4:30 a.m., sending smoke billowing through downtown Juneau and cutting electricity to many homes and businesses. Firefighters sprayed nearby buildings to keep the fire from spreading.

The blaze was under control by 8 a.m.

Holy Trinity was built in 1896, making it the second-oldest church in Juneau. Plays, community meetings and receptions were held in the adjoining McPhetres Hall and concerts were regularly held at the church.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. Fire Chief Eric Mohrmann said it appeared to have started between the two buildings.

A motorboat parked in the driveway was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.

Firefighters pointed their hoses at the burning boat, while the church rector's wife and Shelby Edwards, owner of the burning house, frantically called firefighters' attention to the flames licking from the rooftops of both buildings.

Mohrmann said the fire had spread from the boat to the attics of the church and house, and from there traveled quickly through the walls of the wood-frame structures.

A series of explosions caused by built-up smoke and gases prompted firefighters to leave the buildings and concentrate instead on containing the blaze to the two structures, Mohrmann said.

Neighbors and many of the church's more than 100 parishioners gathered to watch.

Jim Wakefield, senior warden at the church, said the community had lost a wonderful building but the church would rebuild.

"The church is still there," he said. "It's just the building that's gone."

At least seven wood-frame houses and an old hotel are tightly packed into the same downtown block. Mohrmann said a thick concrete wall built alongside the church addition protected a neighboring house.

As the heat rose from the blaze, residents of the nearby Bergman Hotel were evacuated.

Dave Thomas, who rents an apartment at a bed and breakfast next door, hauled boxes, electronics and bags of possessions from his home.

"Our windows in the kitchen were cracking," he said. "We got the bills, the homework and the computers."

The church rector, Rev. George Silides, declined to speak to reporters, saying he was too close to tears.

Mohrmann said although the blaze was under control, he expected crews to spend the next two days working to extinguish the fire completely.

Alaska adds a new IAFF local

Updated On: Jun 11, 2007 (09:06:00)

Please join us in warmly welcoming Alaska's newest IAFF Local

North Pole Local # 4505

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