Stories fan flames

I find it hard to comprehend the value and intent of the recent articles regarding Big Lake Volunteer Fire Department borrowing equipment to improve the community’s fire protection capabilities. Don’t the residents of our borough desire and deserve the best fire protection and emergency services our volunteers are able to provide?

I do not understand all the hype about borrowing equipment until additional equipment could be purchased since it did not compromise Wasilla’s area fire protection or ISO rating. All the equipment belongs to our borough, even though it’s funded by local Fire Service Area property taxes and by grants. All of our borough’s volunteer fire departments provide “mutual aid” in support of fire departments out of their local fire service area. Mutual aid applies to volunteers and equipment in order to provide the best response possible.

To publicly indict dedicated volunteers and a borough emergency services employee as somehow being involved in a scheme to falsify ISO ratings is unjust. From your articles, I can only draw the conclusion that they are guilty; guilty of providing better fire protection to the public, a charge that we all should support.

Toby Riddell

Point MacKenzie