UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
MARYLAND FIRE AND RESCUE INSTITUTE
BULLETIN OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2024 VOL.54 NO.4
MFRI INSTRUCTORS TRAIN FIRST RESPONDERS IN ALASKA MFRI instructors Rick Hartle, Bobby Holmes, and Jimmy Artis trekked to southeast Fairbanks in Alaska to train the Fort Greely Fire Division in a month-long series of rescue courses. Charged with safeguarding soldiers, civilians, and families, Fort Greely Fire has the added challenge of working in a subarctic climate. “We have to deal with extreme temperatures, usually as low as -40F in late winter,” said Fort Greely Training Chief Stacy Skoda. “The service area is also spread out so EMS response time to some areas takes more than 30 minutes.” Since much of the area outside city limits is non-hydrated, tenders are often used for water supply and glycol is poured into fire hydrants. Swapping out crews is also a necessity during extended operations outdoors in the elements. A MFRI instructor for 28 years, Rick Hartle first trained the Alaska crew in September of 2021 when COVID was still spreading. He had to spend two weeks isolating in Fairbanks before going on base. MFRI instructors spent a month in Fairbanks, AK leading Fort Greely Fire Division and other invited departments in rescue courses. With its northern location, Fairbanks experiences the midnight sun in summer and the Northern Lights from August to April.
Rick said the weather this year was much less forgiving. “First time in Alaska it was 65 degrees in September. This trip it was in the continued on page 3