Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche joined fire chiefs from around the Kenai Peninsula on Tuesday to celebrate the donation of nearly half a million dollars in extrication equipment to fire departments on the Kenai Peninsula and in Girdwood.
In all, $450,000 worth of equipment was donated, of which $116,000 came from a highway safety grant through the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and $312,000 came from an appropriation by the 32nd Alaska Legislature. Private and corporate donations also helped pay for the equipment.
Micciche, who served as president of the 32nd Alaska Senate, said in a press release that he worked to secure funding for the equipment after fire chiefs from the Kenai Peninsula and Girdwood lobbied the Alaska Legislature for upgrades.
“I am sincerely grateful for the support of fellow legislators in recognizing the imperative nature of the appropriation, and excited at the arrival of this important life-saving equipment,” Micciche is quoted as saying in the release.
The extrication equipment, similar to “Jaws of Life” technology, is made by LN Curtis and was donated to fire stations in Girdwood, Bear Creek, Homer, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kenai, Seward, Hope, Fritz Creek and Ninilchik. Those who convened in Girdwood on Tuesday celebrated with a cake shaped like extrication equipment, according to Girdwood Fire and Rescue.
Scheduled to be in attendance Tuesday were Micciche, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Central Region Director Wolfgang Junge, Girdwood Fire Chief Michelle Weston, Bear Creek Chief Richard Brackin and Western Services Deputy Fire Chief Rob Mathis. Kenai Fire Chief Tony Prior also attended.
“This new rescue equipment is vital to saving lives when minutes count!” Cooper Landing Emergency Services wrote on Facebook.
Girdwood Fire and Rescue also took to social media to celebrate the equipment, adding that their new tools were used to respond to two vehicle accidents on Tuesday afternoon.
“Today was a great day,” the agency said.
More information about the technology donated Tuesday can be found on the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities website at dot.alaska.gov.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
