Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

House Approves Standards for Firefighters

Bill Creates the Alaska Fire Standards Council

For Immediate Release May 1, 1998 Contact: Rep. Mark Hodgins at (907) 465-3779.

Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Friday passed House Bill 473, which establishes the Alaska Fire Standards Council. This body would be responsible for adopting minimum standards for employment and curriculum requirements for firefighters and fire service personnel across Alaska.

"The concept behind this bill is to give officials in one area of Alaska some idea of the competence and training levels of firefighting personnel from other areas by establishing acceptable statewide standards," said Representative Mark Hodgins (R-Kenai), who carried the measure on the House Floor. "Alaska suffers an average daily fire loss of approximately $89-thousand and a fire fatality every other week. The implementation of these statewide standards will have a significant impact on efforts to lower those gruesome statistics," Hodgins said.

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Broadcasters note: Comments are available on the House Majority Line (800) 578-6540.
= Mark Hodgins, 47 K