Two Ketchikan South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department Firefighters honored for 40 years of service

Two volunteer firefighters who have served four decades with Ketchikan’s South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department were recognized on Monday by the Borough Assembly. South Tongass Fire Chief Steve Rydeen praised Chuck Denny and Dennis Spurgeon’s commitment to the department. “This is probably the highlight of my career – being able to recognize two vital parts of our department who have made it what it is today.” He thanked them for their dedication, and for training and mentoring new members. “I can’t say enough about these guys. They’re there every Thursday night for drill. They’re there every Saturday that we have a drill or a cleanup. They’re there to help others. We can call them, and they show up without hesitation.” Rydeen then presented them with a replica of a traditional firefighter’s tool known as a “speaker trumpet.” Those megaphone-like tools were once used to communicate and cut through the cacophony of a fire scene.
KRBD-FM 103.5

Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department traces minor structure fire to in floor heating

The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 600 block of N. Nordic Dr. Tuesday morning at about 7 A.M., according to PVFD Assistant Fire Chief Dave Berg. Fifteen volunteers responded to an OBI Seafoods bunkhouse on PFI Hill that was filled with heavy smoke. The source of the smoke was coming from under a couch in the center of the room, said Berg. Volunteers flipped the couch over expecting to find a burning cigarette or another source of the smoke, instead they found an approximately 15 to 18 inch hole burned straight through the floorboards, said Berg. The crew took a fire hose down into the basement and, using a thermal imager, found a section of the insulation beneath the flooring of the first story of the building that was radiating heat, said Berg.
Petersburg Pilot

Trident Seafoods reports 4 COVID-19 cases at plant in Alaska

A Seattle-based seafood company has reported that Alaska seafood plant workers have tested positive for COVID-19, including one who was taken to a hospital. The Seattle Times reports that Trident Seafoods reported the four employees were roommates and have returned to work after undergoing a 14-day quarantine and testing negative. The Trident Seafoods’ plant is a processing center for Bering Sea harvests of pollock, crab, and cod in Akutan, about 750 miles southwest of Anchorage. The plant is the company’s largest Alaska location. Chief Executive Director Joe Bundrant said in a statement on Monday that it is assessing potential operational impacts of COVID-19 spreading at the facility.
KINY Radio