Over 563 firefighters have fought the McKinley Fire and an additional 230 firefighters have worked on the Deshka Landing Fire since August 17th. While many of these firefighters are from Alaska, some fire crews are recruited from out-of-state. The physical and mental demands of firefighting require crews to be swapped out in order to be safe and most effective on the job. Firefighting has its hazards, and the importance of strong leadership and teamwork is key to maintaining the highest safety standards.
KTNA’s Katie Writer spoke with two firefighters, Superintendent Matt Jones of Kansas and Public Information Officer Jacob Welsh of Oregon, about their jobs, as well as their leadership roles and the career opportunities in firefighting.
Matt Jones and Jacob Welsh 
Staff at Sheep Creek Lodge
