Palmer Fire and Rescue release report

PALMER — Palmer Fire and Rescue released their annual report in March detailing the work in protecting property in the Palmer Fire Service Area from fire. The Palmer Fire Department received a significant impact on their budget from CARES Act funds received through the city of Palmer in 2020.

“The dedicated professionals of Palmer Fire & Rescue are devoted to your safety and welfare. Whether working at administration, Rescue operations, fire suppression, or Fire Prevention; the men and women of Palmer Fire & Rescue are always here to serve you,” wrote Palmer Fire Chief Chad Cameron.

Cameron took over as Chief in December after John McNutt resigned in 2020 for a job in the Lower 48. The budget in 2020 was $611,633, with two full-time personnel and approximately 50 paid-on call volunteers across six fire stations on Palmer Fishhook, Farm Loop, Lazy Mountain, the Cobb Street station and training headquarters on Cope Industrial Way. Out of the $611,633, 68 percent was spent on personnel, 12 percent on equipment and 12 percent on utilities. Of the 2020 budget, $298,788 was contributed from the city of Palmer itself. The Mat-Su Borough Greater Palmer Fire contract accounted for $262,845 and Palmer Fire received $50,000 from a rescue service contract with the borough. Palmer Fire and Rescue budgets were nearer to $800,000 in the previous three years, and the proposed budget for 2021 is $1,012,160.

“Covid funding was able to purchase much of the necessary equipment therefore funds were not taken from the city of Palmer budget,” reads the report.

The Palmer Fire and Rescue personnel respond to calls from the Glenn Highway and Parks Highway interchange to Moose Creek on the Glenn Highway, and provide mutual aid to calls all the way to mile 129 of the Glenn Highway. Palmer Fire and Rescue responders saved 91.7 percent of property threatened by fire in 2020, responding to a total of 791 calls, down just seven calls from the previous year’s total. Of those 791 calls, 106 were for fires, 280 for rescue or EMS, 51 for hazardous conditions, 75 service calls, 200 good intent calls, 76 false alarm calls, and 3 special incidents.

Palmer Fire & Rescue maintains response capabilities to best meet the needs of our unique community. In addition to fire suppression and rescue response, these capabilities include technical rescue disciplines,” reads the report. “Palmer Fire & Rescue’s firefighters fill many different roles to protect the community. Firefighters are cross trained in auto extrication, various rescue disciplines including rope and water, fire control and suppression, hazardous materials spills and many other techniques in order to meet the needs of the community. Training Palmer Fire & Rescue’s personnel for numerous emergencies is ongoing and challenging. Changes to current standards by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), State of Alaska, and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) constantly require evolving the training of our staff. Our staff are continuously revising and updating training programs to meet the new standards.”