Borough emergency services director resigns

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough is looking for a new emergency services director.

After 27 years of public service as a borough responder, including almost two in his current position, Bill Gamble resigned his position.

The announcement came late Monday afternoon from borough public affairs director Patty Sullivan. Sullivan said that was the day Gamble informed his employees of the decision. The job has been posted on the borough's website and does not have a closing date listed.

Sullivan said an interim appointee might be pegged to fill the gap during the hiring process. Mat-Su Borough Manager John Moosey said he would prefer to find a qualified Alaskan to replace Gamble who is resigning to pursue projects with his family. Gamble is married with a 13-year-old son at home and a 26-year-old daughter.

Gamble's service to the Mat-Su includes 21 years as an on-call responder and six in the same role full-time. He became a responder with Big Lake Fire Department in May of 1990 and moved up to full-time department chief in mid-January of 2011. He was named acting director in the position after the April 1, 2015, resignation of Dennis Brodigan who served for more than 14 years. Gamble got the nod as a permanent replacement two weeks later. Gamble also was air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration for 26 years.

In April, 2015, he was promoted to Director of Emergency Services, which according to the borough, was comprised of more than 530 department employees. In that mix were 450 responders and staff, eight fire service areas spanning more than 600 square miles and area-wide EMS, rescue and water rescue, and haz-mat teams. While that number may look impressive, a vast majority of the responders are part-time, paid on-call, and limited to less than 30 hours per week in that role. The Central Mat-Su Fire Department is the second largest department in Alaska and the borough's busiest, Sullivan said.

Gamble is on record with his concerns over what he called a "slowly deteriorating" emergency response system. That system was designed some 25 years ago to address a population less than a third of that today. The Mat-Su has been the fastest growing area of the state with steady population growth and infrastructure expansion despite current economic woes Alaska faces.

Gamble's career spanned large-scale disasters from the 1996 Miller's Reach Fire in Big Lake to the 2015 Sockeye Fire near Willow. The Sockeye was a state-declared disaster in which up to 1,000 sled dogs had to be evacuated quickly. Gamble was a new fire chief during the Millers Reach Fire, likely still the most destructive fire in Alaska as far as buildings destroyed, according to borough officials. That fire destroyed more than 400 structures in the Big Lake area.

He served during three other federally-declared Mat-Su disasters including a 2003 windstorm, floods in 2006 and as the operations section chief when flood waters infiltrated Talkeetna in 2012. Most recently, Gamble was on the job during last August's state-declared disaster in Butte as the Matanuska River ate away banks and threatened major infrastructure along its banks.

"He's done a great job," wrote his peer Ken Barkley, Mat-Su Borough deputy fire director. "He will be missed by all. He has other opportunities that only come around once. Director Gamble will always be a part of our family.”

"Our tremendous loss, his gain," said Moosey. "Bill has led us through dire times well."

“After twenty-one years as an on-call responder, over four years as a full-time fire chief, and almost two years as the director of emergency services, I have decided to resign my position with the Mat-Su Borough," wrote Gamble. "I have been contemplating for some time leaving public service for private business, and after careful consideration I realize that an opportunity has presented itself that is too exciting to pass up.

"I am proud of the accomplishments the Department of Emergency Services has made during my tenure as Director and I am looking forward to the challenges awaiting me as I start a new life outside of public service. I am extremely proud of the staff and responders that make up the Mat-Su Borough Department of Emergency Services and it has been my pleasure to support and work with them over the years.”

Accolades also came in from borough assembly members.

"I think the absolute world of Bill, and this a huge loss," said northern borough area assemblyman Randall Kowalke by phone. "He had the respect of the employees, of the community, and he brought our organization light years ahead. We will, in tribute to him, make sure we continue with the other tasks that are yet to be accomplished," Kowalke said.

Big Lake area Assembly Member Dan Mayfield said he was "surprised" and "saddened."

"We're losing a great leader and a great advocate for public safety," Mayfield said. "I wish him the best of luck in his personal endeavors going forward. Bill brought the Borough camaraderie and team building to the EMS and Fire department."

Assemblywoman Barbara Doty serving northern Palmer and northern Wasilla areas, said Gamble was reliable.

"Bill has implemented clear accountability and clear vision and goals and data to see progress toward those goals. He's worked hard to build an amicable relationship between the Assembly and EMS leadership," Doty said.

Gamble's last day on the job is Feb. 3. He told the borough he would facilitate the transition of his duties.

"It has been a pleasure working with you and all of the MSB staff over the last 22 months. One of the highlights of my tenure as Director was rebuilding and refocusing the DES Fire, Rescue, and EMS systems, emphasizing operations and customer service," Gamble told borough officials.