Borough TV spot calls for caution with fire

More than 400 residents and firefighters turned out for the Millers Reach Fire 20th Anniversary event last weekend. Two days ago was the start date of the Sockeye Fire last summer with an anniversary event this weekend. With temperatures reaching 80F and humidity dropping, fire is on the minds of many who fight it and others who dread it. Take a look at this :30 TV ad produced by Mat-Su Borough Public Affairs. It features Bill Gamble, Mat-Su Emergency Services Director, and Norm McDonald, a State Fire Manager with the Forestry Division, both key firefighters on Millers Reach and Sockeye. "Please be responsible," McDonald says. "It all matters."

The Millers Reach Fire remains the State's most destructive fire. 344 structures were lost. In the recent Sockeye Fire last year, 55 structures, including homes and cabins, were lost to fire.

This TV commercial is running through July 10 on networks A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, CNN, Discovery, ESPN, Fox News, HGTV, Food Network, History channel, Lifetime, Syfy, tbs, and TNT.

In Photograph left to right: Mat-Su Borough—Casey Cook-Emergency Manager, Mahlon Greene-Willow Fire Chief, Ken Barkley-Deputy Director of Fire & Rescue, FRONT, Bill Gamble-Director of Emergency Services. RIGHT  Alaska Division of Forestry—Norm McDonald-Mat-Su Area Forestry Fire Management Officer, Mark Johnson-Mat-Su Area Wildland Fire & Resource Technician, Nathan Blydenburgh-Mat-Su Area Wildland Fire & Resource Technician, Britta West-Alaska Fire Service Specialist from Fairbanks, and Ethan Eley-Mat-Su Area Fire Prevention Officer.

Public Affairs is Stefan Hinman and Patty Sullivan. Video shot staging support from Rachael Richardson and Forestry's Sarah Saarloos. Archival footage of Millers Reach Fire from Division of Forestry. Photos of video shoot by Patty Sullivan/Mat-Su Borough. For more info call Sullivan at 861-8577 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.