The Haines Volunteer Fire Department turned in its annual report to the borough. 911 calls are up and volunteer numbers are down, and the department is working on increasing participation.

The new year was the occasion for first responders in Haines to gather and make plans for the future. There was a wish list of new equipment, from a new pick up truck, to, in the very long term, a new fire hall. The backup ambulance will need to be replaced in a few years. The real treat will be to get a second power gurney for that ambulance. Here is Fire Chief Brian Clay describing the device.

Clay: “It’s a battery operated stretcher, it’s all by buttons and done by hydraulics, it lifts up, pulls on, and then another arm picks it up and pulls, and all they do is guide it, and hold on to it so it doesn’t roll away. It saves having to lift it with four EMTs and it saves our backs.

There are talks about holding a SouthEast Regional Emergency Medical Services Symposium in Haines, an event that brings first responders from around the state for four days of training. And to create a junior firefighter program, with high school students.

But the most pressing issue is staffing.

Last year there were 395 ambulance calls, and 42 fire calls. This added up to over 4100 volunteer hours.

Here is Chief Clay again.

Clay: “Our total right now is about thirty three people on our roster. We are short on volunteers, we want to develop a recruitment plan, fifteen members about 60% retention. People are picking up applications wanting to apply, and we’ll see what we got . At this time we’ve added four new volunteers plus a chaplain.”

The department also filled a vacant position, Sean Reed is the new full time firefighter/EMT on staff. He just started.

Reed: “I’m Sean Reed, I’m the new EMT/Firefighter here at the Haines Volunteer Fire Department, and today is day one of training. Today we are doing practice runs to the airport, just getting some ambulance training and just driving in general, and we are going to go through a lot more stuff later on in the day. So I have been an EMT since 2014,  starting off in California, and I’ve worked on private ambulance companies, AMR and another smaller one. I’ve been in Haines since 2016, and now I’m back into EMS, which I’m excited about.”

To increase participation, the department is training more volunteers to drive the Ambulance. Nishan Weerasinghe has been a member of the Search And Rescue team for a few years. 

Nishan: “The call came out, they were short of drivers, due to the volunteer shortage. I’m glad to do this for the town of Haines,  I’ve lived here nearly thirty years, and it’s a delight to help.”

 Long time department staff Jenn Walsh is conducting the training.  

The volunteer shortage is also on her mind.

Walsh: “Right now it is the 26th day of the month and we are already at forty calls for the year. This is unprecedented in the twelve years I’ve been here. And today we are doing driver’s training with one of our Search and Rescue volunteers because we are in need, serious need of help. So, if there is anybody out there who wants to volunteer we could really use the help.”

Next we go to the clinic, to show the new drivers the best approach.

And then, training on the power gurney.

After this training, drivers will sign up for shifts, keep their radio on, and respond when the call comes.

The Haines Volunteer Fire Department is in the process of hiring another staff, part time, to help with call volume.