Juneau, Alaska – The Alaska Legislature Thursday unanimously passed a bill ensuring appropriate representation on the Alaska Fire Standards Council. The Council is currently made up of 11 members, 10 of which are appointed by the governor.

House Bill 113, sponsored by Representative Eric Feige, makes three changes to the membership of the Council. The bill designates an existing firefighter seat to a member of the Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association; adds a seat for a member of the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association; and, clarifies the representative’s qualifications from the Alaska State Firefighters Association.

“The Fire Standards Council has done an excellent job advancing the level of firefighting in our state; these changes to the council will help continue that advancement,” Feige, R-Chickaloon, said. “The diverse representation on the council assures us that the council develops standards appropriate for firefighters in the largest career departments as well as the smallest volunteer departments, while not leaving out those in between.”

Under the legislation the governor appoints one member of each of the associations to the Council from a list of three nominees submitted by each association.

The mission of the Alaska Fire Standards Council is to establish professional standards for fire service personnel and curriculum requirements for the certification of training programs.

HB 113 passed the House unanimously March 28 and now moves to the Governor for signature.