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Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department Committee

The Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department Committee oversees all fire response and emergency medical services (EMS) for Gustavus.

Services

The Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department provides fire response, emergency medical services (EMS), and search and rescue for Gustavus and the surrounding area.  It staffs the essential Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting service at the Gustavus Airport during the summer jet service periods.  The Department works closely with the rangers of Glacier Bay National Park and with the US Coast Guard, during in search and rescue operations in the Gustavus, Glacier Bay, and Icy Strait areas.  The GVFD is prepared to respond regionally to disasters when called.

Remember to call 911 to activate any of the following services.  Do not call the fire hall or a volunteer directly in an emergency.

  • Medical Response-Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department has medically trained ETTs and EMTs to respond to medical calls, trauma calls and vehicle accidents. Our ambulance is fully equipped to care for the sick and injured, and transport to the appropriate facility.
  • Search and Rescue- Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department has rescue volunteers ready to respond to reports of missing persons, lost persons or persons injured in remote areas.  Search and rescue team members are crosstrained as medical personnel and can treat the sick and injured when found.
  • Fire Response- Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department has trained volunteers to respond to structural and wildland fires, vehicle extrications and fire prevention.  

 

Current News

Join our exciting team!  The Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department has grown rapidly in the last three months to nearly 30 volunteer responders.   We welcome and encourage any interested Gustavus resident wanting to serve our community.   You can learn firefighting and/or emergency medical skills and achieve State certification as a fire-fighter, ETT or EMT.  We are scheduling great new training opportunities both in Gustavus and at outside training centers.  There are also opportunities to support the Department in roles other than as a firefighter or EMT, so almost anyone can help in some way.  Stop by the Fire Hall and talk over the opportunities for you with Chief Steve Manchester.

Great EMS Training Opportunities in Gustavus!  See Chief Steve Manchester at the Fire Hall or call him at 697-2707 for information or to sign up.  Classes are free to GVFD volunteers, but some spaces are available at low cost to non-volunteers interested in gaining the skills as well.

Congratulations to Cassie, Noel, Carl, Doc, Tom and Chief Steve for completing the February EMT-1 course!     Thanks to Instructor Ray Skaflestad of Hoonah for presenting a great class here in Gustavus, and thanks also to the many Gustavus residents who helped out as practice patients, or bringers of treats for the students.  If you are interested in participating in a Fall 2011 EMT-1 course, contact Steve to sign up. 

Medevac Escort class: Coming in June at the Gustavus Fire Hall. 

Time to clean your chimney?  The Fire Hall has a chimney cleaning brush available for loan.  See Chief Steve Manchester at Fire Hall to borrow it.

CIP Request in to Alaska Legislature:  GVFD has submitted a Capital Improvement Program grant request with the Alaska Legislature. The funding request will support the purchase of a new base radio system and approximately 24 new, up-to-date hand sets for responder use.  It also will fund the purchase of a quantitative fit-testing machine to fit test SCBA masks to assure they right size and fit for each volunteer.

Next GVFD Committee Meeting:  TBA

Organization

See the full text of the committee's enabling ordinance.

Committee Members:

  • Wendy Bredow Chair
  • Gus Martinez   Secretary
  • Mike Taylor
  • Lou Cacioppo
  • Mark Berry

Non-Voting Committee Participants:

  • Steve Manchester,  Fire Chief (Interim appointment)
  • John Nixon (Council Liaison)

Contact Information

  • Contact any committee member directly.
Gustavus Volunteer Fire Dept
City of Gustavus
PO Box 1
Gustavus, AK 99826

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