Fire chief reports lightning-caused structure fire, outlines recruitment plan

The Fire Chief told the East Bethel City Council on Aug. 25 that the department responded to 81 calls since the last report and that crews saved a home after a presumed lightning strike.

"We did have 1 structure fire in that time. It was a lightning strike, a presumed lightning strike that our crews responded to at 03:30 in the morning," the chief said, and credited Captain Ryan Henry with running the incident.

The chief provided a call-type breakdown: 43 medical calls, 23 "good intent" calls (for example, smoke or CO alarms), eight hazard conditions with no fire, three service calls, two fires and two false alarms. The department reported one structure fire and said crews worked to protect the house.

The chief said five new employees started on Aug. 11–12 and were paired with mentors for the probationary period. The department plans to resume recruitment in September with the goal of placing three additional people in the firefighting academy that begins in January, resulting in eight new hires entering the academy in January if recruitment and potential retirements proceed as expected.

Councilor asked for a definition of "good intent" calls; the chief explained these are incidents such as smoke alarms sounding or carbon-monoxide alarms.

No formal action was taken on the report; council members asked clarifying questions and the chief outlined recruitment and onboarding steps.