As temperatures begin to warm and daylight hours extend more than 15 hours per day, CLES has experienced a sharp increase in call volume during the month of April.
On April 17th, CLES was dispatched to a reported fully involved structure fire in the 34000 block of the Seward highway as mutual aid to Moose Pass VFD at 01:49 am. Units from Cooper Landing and Bear Creek responded to aid Moose Pass. On arrival, fire fighters encountered a partially collapsed structure that was fully involved with fire driven by a large amount of combustible fuels on site. A defensive attack was made to contain the fire that was hampered by a consistent water source. Tankers from all departments had to make numerous trips long distances to obtain water.
The home owner suffered extensive burns attempted to extinguish the fire prior to fire department arrival. The patient was treated on scene by Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and flown to an Anchorage area hospital via LifeMed helicopter for further treatment.
Despite valiant efforts by all departments, the property was a total loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Alaska State Troopers.
On Tuesday April 26th at 12:37 am, Cooper Landing was dispatched with Moose Pass VFD to a reported semi-trailer on fire at Mile 38 of the Seward Highway southbound. Upon arrival, fire fighters encountered a fully involved 53′ trailer fully involved with fire. It was determined the semi was transporting mail to the Kenai Peninsula. Fire fighters remained on scene for most of the night extinguishing the stubborn fire that was fueled by large amounts of compact paper combustibles.
According to a press release from the postal service, the contracted semi-truck caught fire after departing from the processing and distribution center in Anchorage. The fire destroyed the truck’s trailer and its contents, but the driver was not injured and able to disconnect his tractor to escape further damage.
According to the postal service, the mail that was destroyed on the truck was destined for Kasilof, Clam Gulch, Ninilchik, Anchor Point, Homer, Fritz Creek, Halibut Cove, Nanwalek, Nikolaevsk, Port Graham, Nikiski and Seldovia.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Alaska State Troopers.
On April 26th at 2:32 pm, Cooper Landing was dispatched to a reported medical emergency at Mile 50 of the Seward highway. The initial call reported that CPR was in progress on the patient. Upon EMS arrival at the scene, bystanders were providing care. The patient was stabilized by Cooper Landing medics and transported in serious but stable condition to an Anchorage area hospital via LifeMed helicopter for further treatment.
To date, the call volume is almost double what it was a year ago. With the addition of the new EMS unit, the department is poised to address the increased call volume over the coming months as summer approaches.
As a 501c3 organization, CLES relies on almost 100% donations. If you are interested in donating to our department, please feel free to click the donate button at the top of the page or you can send a donation to CLES, PO Box 510, Cooper Landing, AK 99572.
