Kenai First Responders Fill their Boots for MDA

Kenai First Responders Fill their Boots for MDA

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon the first responders of Kenai and Nikiski Fire Departments parked their big red ladder truck at the corner of the Spur Highway and Main St. and proceeded play in traffic for their annual Fill the Boot campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Assoc. (MDA) It use to be a traditional Labor Day weekend event held in conjunction with MDA telethon, but according to Capt. John Harris of the KFD they changed that a few years ago, “Three years ago we started doing it in the post dividend and holiday month of October because it’s fire safety month so we moved it to October and have found that there’s more of a giving spirit. It’s kind of our own thing in Kenai,” he explained. Ten off duty firefighters and one from Nikiski participated in the 6 hour Fill the Boot campaign that raised over $9,000 or $9,187.10 to be exact. “It was all on their off time and everyone volunteered to be here and participate on their own, and the people of our community as always proved to be very generous. Some folks who didn’t catch the red light actually turned around and came back so they could money in the boot,” said Harris. Lisa Quesnel of Nikiski was one of the people who did a turn-a-round and told the Dispatch, “I just couldn’t catch a red light and this is a way not only to help MDA but to say thank you to these guys for being there for us 24/7 whenever we need them. And of course in Nikiski we all know Omar, he’s our ‘Homeboy.”

Melissa Kompkoff had another reason for helping the guys fill the boot, “I lost my 19 year old son to Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy almost 6 years ago. The way the Muscular Dystrophy Association takes care of its kids is nothing short of phenomenal. Again my most heartfelt thanks for what they are doing. Those fire fighters are really something else. Sometimes they would come visit my son in Anchorage from the multiple anchorage fire houses. Special people! I was involved with MDA in Anchorage for 16 years. We lost my first husband to suicide and when I remarried we had everyone bring in monetary donations, instead of gifts, for MDA that we hand delivered to the office in Anchorage. We did so in my son’s name and his friend whom he had lost a few months earlier. They really become like family. Things they set up for the kids to do at camp and some of the counselors they get are a dream come true. The medical clinics they get together for our kids, to be able to see ALL their specialists at one time, is such a godsend. Our service dog, Snickers, (now gone too) was the first one to attend summer camp at Birchwood for MDA. Thanks to everyone who helped fill the boot,” said Kompkoff.

Capt. Harris also took the occasion and fire prevention month to say, “We are stressing exit drills in the home. To practice not only fire drills like we have at the schools, but ask the kids to take that information home and apply it to their homes, to formulate a plan and practice it,” he said. Regarding wood stove maintenance Harris said, “Yearly inspections are key and all of the fire departments have a chimney brush for those with fireplaces and wood stoves that they can borrow to sweep their chimneys. All you have to do is call any of our administrative offices and we loan them out free of charge and we’ll even show you how to use it.”

Kenai First Responders Fill their Boots for MDA
Kenai First Responders Fill their Boots for MDA

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof closes Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in