ConocoPhillips makes great day for young fire

West Lakes Public Safety Building, Meadow Lakes—Today the Matanuska-Susitna Borough received for free, title to a 1984 ladder truck, a noteworthy asset, even used, for the Borough’s youngest fire service area. It is the first time ConocoPhillips, Alaska, has surplused a ladder truck to a local Alaska government.

“She’s a good truck and has a lot of life left in her,” said the firefighter who was instrumental in initiating the donation—John Fairchild a Captain at the Kuparuk Fire Department on the North Slope for ConocoPhillips, Alaska. Fairchild represents an interesting dynamic and rich talent at West Lakes Fire & Ambulance Service Area. He is among the four to five firefighters who work both full-time on the North Slope for ConocoPhillips and as responders at West Lakes Fire when at home.

Assembly Member Vern Halter of district 7 thanked ConocoPhillips for the valuable gift ($80,000-$100,000) and Carlile trucking for the free delivery. “This is a $800,000 to $900,000 rig new,” Halter said. “It’s used now, but the MAT-SU is going to put it to good use.”

Halter thanked the two dozen local firefighters and their families at the event who admired the extension of the 80-foot stratosphere ladder in the four below zero temps. “West Lakes is easy to represent on the Assembly, because you’re very competent and take care of yourselves. All the accomplishments that West Lakes has done to reduce property insurance for people, to keep the risk down, you’ve come a long way since consolidation with Big Lake Fire. It’s a great day for us,” Halter said.

Last spring, just a few years after forming, West Lakes improved its fire protection rating, decreasing some homeowner’s insurance premiums by 50 percent.

Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss described the gift of the truck to a young fire service area as a “big deal” and a tradition that has really helped the fire system grow.

West Lakes Fire Service Area is about 92 square miles. It begins northeast of Schrock Road and Lucille Street and extends west on both sides of Big Lake. West Lakes Fire Chief Bill Gamble said this isn’t the first time that Conoco has helped out local fire. A donated heater is used at a live fire training facility.

“I’m so appreciative. It allows us to take money that we would have had to put toward the ladder truck and use it in other areas of the fire department like training and other equipment to help us build a safe community,” Gamble said.

Halter added that the truck will reach beyond West Lakes Fire and will help out Houston and Meadow Lakes as well.

Also representing ConocoPhillips at the event were Dave Zink, Director of HSE & Emergency Services; Mary Gibbs, Director of Philanthropy & Community Services, and Renee McCormick, Public Affairs Specialist.

For more information email Patty Sullivan, Public Affairs Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photos: top left, Wearing the seal of West Lakes Fire Service Area, the new ladder truck extends its 80 foot ladder. Lower left: Accepting the title, left to right, Chief Bill Gamble, Assembly Member Vern Halter, Mayor Larry DeVilbiss, Manager John Moosey, and ConocoPhillips' John Fairchild. Top right: Assistant Chief at West Lakes John Fairchild operates the ladder truck. Lower right: Borough Manager John Moosey and Mayor Larry DeVilbiss crane their necks up to take in the stratosphere ladder's reach. Photos by Patty Sullivan/MSB

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