At its annual open house, the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department showcased the dramatic and challenging side of firefighting for the benefit of young residents.
Features introduced this year included a pint-sized obstacle course mimicking the agility tests undergone by actual firefighters. Such activities could pique the interest of children who will later go on to join the department, Lt. Stephen Phillips said.
It’s become increasingly challenging to recruit new volunteers, said Fire and Police Chief Mike Hicks. The department relies on two paid employees and 30 to 40 volunteers.
“We’re really fortunate to have that many,” Hicks said. “It’s getting harder to get volunteers. People have busier lifestyles — it’s the world we live in.”
At the open house, kids were able to wield a firehose and put out small fires using handheld fire extinguishers.
“I liked the smoke and stuff,” remarked an enthusiastic Tracer Stimson, 8. However, Stimson added that he would never spray someone with a fire extinguisher as a joke, as doing so would be irresponsible.
Using red ABC fire extinguishers of the kind commonly found in households prepares children to handle actual emergencies, said firefighter Cody Handley. ABC fire extinguishers are used to control wood fires, liquid fires and electrical fires.
“I hope kids will know, when they see a fire, that they can take one of these things and work it,” Handley said. “If they can’t call emergency services, and it’s a small fire, they’ll be able to deal with it.”
Attendees also had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Zoll X Series, a device roughly the size of a boombox that can measure a patient’s vitals and act as a defibrillator. Getting a look at the X Series device ahead of time should prevent residents from being confused or alarmed by use of the device in the field, said emergency medical services professional Joanne Poplin.
The department owns two X Series devices, which would have been valued at roughly $37,000 each in 2013, when one of them was acquired. Like many of the department’s more expensive pieces of equipment, the devices were purchased through a grant.
The event also served as an opportunity to honor Dick Groff, deputy fire chief since 2018. Groff has served with the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department for 45 years.
“He’s trained literally thousands of people around the state of Alaska in fire and emergency management,” Hicks said. He’s just a phenomenal guy.”
Groff modestly accepted Hicks’s accolades and a piece of a carrot cake baked in his honor.
October 2019 has been designated Fire Prevention Month by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in response to the recent high incidence of fires in Alaska. Last year, 820 residential fires resulted in nine civilian deaths and $28.6 million in property damage, according to an announcement by the governor’s office.
