Trending Topics

Alaska responders turn in medical gear in face of legality issue

By Scott Christiansen
The Kodiak Daily Mirror

KODIAK, Alaska — Emergency medical kits are being returned to the Kodiak Island Borough’s Bayside Fire Station by volunteer first responders after a stand down order issued last week by Bayside Fire Chief Bob Himes. A similar order is expected today for volunteers from the Womens Bay Volunteer Fire Department south of Kodiak city.

“I am working on an official statement to the service areas right now,” Borough Manager Rick Gifford said this morning. “We will ask Womens Bay to do the same thing.”

Gifford made the decision to withdraw borough employees and volunteers from emergency medical service after reviewing old legal advice and soliciting new advice about the borough’s health powers from state officials, the borough’s insurance provider and from borough attorney Matt Jamin.

Full Story: Borough firefighters turn in medical gear