Viewpoints
NTVFD officially one year
old
by Dave Hull, Chief
February 07, 2005
Monday
On behalf of the North Tongass Fire and EMS Service Area Board
of Directors and the North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department
I would like to thank all of you for the support and assistance
this past year. On February 1, 2005 NTVFD officially turned one
year old.
Chief Hull and NTVFD
BOD Member and volunteer firefighter Steve Philips
cut the party cake with a fire axe. Kids don't try this at home.
Photo courtesy Dave Hull
The first year is a traditional
right of passage time frame in the fire service. In most situations
with the passage of their "probation" comes a realization
that the person, or in this case the organization, is here to
stay. The "rookie" is a little more matured and their
future is a little more established and focused. If NTVFD were
a "probationary member" we would have gotten our badge
Tuesday night.
We could not have achieved
this milestone without the assistance of a number of individuals
and groups in the community. Chief Rich Leipfert, Ketchikan Fire
Department; former Chief Scott Davis and interim Mark Malone
of South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department, and members of both
departments were of immense help through out the building process
and continue to assist us in anyway they can. The Borough Staff,
lead by Roy Eckert, along with Mayor Mike Salazar and the Borough
Assembly have done an incredible amount of work for the department
and has continually made decisions regarding NTVFD that are in
the best interests of the citizens of the North Tongass area.
Members of the North
Tongass Volunteer Fire Department pose for a group picture at
the Anniversary celebration Tuesday night at Station 6, 7332
NTH.
Photo courtesy Dave Hull
Most of all I would like to thank all the volunteer and career
department members who have dedicated long hours of their time
to devote to training and emergency response. I would also like
to acknowledge the families of the volunteers and the employers
who allow our emergency responders the opportunity to respond.
To place a monitory value on the participation of the volunteer
responders would very difficult to do. Suffice it to say that
the cost associated with enjoying the same level of response
under a full career system would be one that this community simply
could not afford.
Members of all three
island fire departments fought a tough
fire in the Shoreline area recently.
Photo courtesy Dave Hull
It is encouraging to note that all the departments are working
closer than ever before to ensure the best possible response
to emergencies wherever they might be. This level of cooperation
not only provides for a higher level of safety for all involved
it also provides a higher level of response in the most cost
efficient manner. Both of which are of great value to the citizens
we have all dedicated our hard work to protect.
Thanks to everyone for your
help, understanding and continued support,
Dave Hull, Chief
North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department
Ketchikan, AK - USA
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