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@peninsulaclarion.com.
Austin Hunsberger, Reno, Nevada.
Billy Canfield, Carson City, Nevada.
Brooke Andrew, Holland Massachusetts
Gabe Nevin, Darby Montana.
Joseph Dentler, Kaltag, Alaska.
Mike Hayes, Soldotna.
Nick McGovern, Orange County, Colorado.
Patrick Oney Pilot Station, Alaska.
Robyn Makaily, Pilot Station, Alaska.
Shane Kelley, McCall, Idaho.
Stewart Mandros, Kaltag, Alaska.
Teresa North, Lawman, Idaho.
Trevor Kauffman, Soldotna
Wassillie Myers, Pilot Station, Alaska.
