Faces from the fire
Published 3:40 am Sunday, June 28, 2015
Name: Trevor Kauffman
From: Soldotna, Alaska
Crew: Soldotna Forestry
Job: Wild Land Fire and Resource Technician
Days on the Card Street fire: 11 (as of Wednesday evening)
What is unique about fighting fires in Alaska?
“Most of our fires up here tend to be more remote, and … we have to support ourselves a little bit more. We get to come up with our own plan.”
Name: Mike Hayes
From: Soldotna, Alaska
Crew: Soldotna Forestry
Job: Wild Land Fire and Resource Technician
Days on the Card Street fire: 11
What is unique about fighting fires in Alaska?
“We’re way more independent. It’s fought at a local level until the team comes in, so we have control of the local operations until the team shows up.”
Name: Gabe Nevin
From: Darby, Montana
Crew: Bitterroot Hotshots
Job: Sawyer
Days on Card Street fire: 8
What is the most challenging part of your job?
“Every fire you see is different, with new ways to look at it.”
Name: Teresa North
From: Lowman, Idaho
Crew: Elk Creek Crew 5
Job: Digger for hand crew
Days on Card Street fire: 4
What is unique about fighting fires in Alaska?
“More mosquitoes. And earthquakes.”
Name: Shane Kelley
From: McCall, Idaho
Crew: Elk Creek Crew 5
Job: Crew Lead
Days on Card Street fire: 4
What made you want to become a firefighter?
“I grew up in a fire town. This is pretty much what everyone does there.”
Name: Brooke Andrew
From: Holland, Massachusetts
Crew: Elk Creek Crew 5
Job: “Rookie”
Days on Card Street fire: 4
What made you want to become a firefighter?
“I was looking for a fun summer opportunity. I’m still in college. I took a class while I was in school, a basic course on wild land firefighting.”
Name: Austin Hunsberger
From: Reno, Nevada
Crew: WNA IA
Job: Sawyer/Squad Boss
Days on Card Street fire: 4
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
“Just knowing that you’re saving a community. It’s just very rewarding and it’s something I have a passion for. I always have. My dad was a firefighter.”
Name: Billy Canfield
From: Carson City, Nevada
Crew: WNA IA
Job: Squad Boss Trainee
Days on Card Street fire: 4
What is unique about fighting fires in Alaska?
“The 24 hour daylight. Trying to go to sleep is a toughie.”
Name: Patrick Oney
From: Pilot Station, Alaska
Crew: Pilot Station
Job: Squad Boss
Days on Card Street fire: 5
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
“The experience. Opportunity. Doing a grid and keeping a straight line.”
Name: Wassillie Myers
From: Pilot Station, Alaska
Crew: Pilot Station
Job: Squad Boss
Days on Card Street fire: 5
What made you decide you wanted to keep fighting fires for 27 years?
“Family. I’m a third-generation firefighter. My uncles were firefighters, my dad, my grandfather. My sons are fourth generation.”
Name: Joseph Dentler
From: Kaltag, Alaska
Crew: Kaltag Type 2
Job: Squad Boss Trainee
Days on Card Street fire: 7
What made you decide to become a firefighter?
“I like being in the outdoors. And we’ve got to protect our lands.”
Name: Robyn Makaily
From: Pilot Station, Alaska
Crew: Pilot Station
Job: Mop Up
Days on Card Street fire: 5
What made you decide to become a firefighter?
“I saw a couple of my classmates – they were females – and they tried out, so the next time they had training in my hometown, I decided to try it out, and I liked it.”
Name: Arnold Nick
From: Pilot Station, Alaska
Crew: Pilot Station
Job: Gridding Hot Spots
Days on Card Street fire: 5
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
“When you get to go out and see your loved ones. You build a bond around the crew members.”
Name: Nick McGovern
From: Orange County, California
Crew: Vegas Valley Crew
Job: Sawyer
Days on Card Street fire: 4
What made you decide to be a firefighter?
“I got out of the military and I applied for this job. I was in crash fire rescue for the military. When a plane crashed or a helicopter crashed, we’d go … and fight the fire.”
Name: Stewart Mandros
From: Kaltag, Alaska
Crew: Kaltag Type 2
Job: Squad Boss Trainee
Days on Card Street fire: 7
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
“The community is pretty nice. On Father’s Day they brought out a whole thing to us out on the lines. Chips, cake, Gatorade, candy.”
Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/peninsulaclarion.
