Public health officials have released a new report documenting hundreds of Alaskans who got sick with COVID-19 in spite of being vaccinated against it. But the report comes with a counterintuitive conclusion, according to officials who worked on it: They say it reinforces the urgency of upping Alaska's stalling vaccination rates. That's because the number of so-called "breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 in vaccinated people were a small fraction — about 4% — of the number of cases among unvaccinated people, even though those groups are similarly sized. "Vaccine breakthrough doesn't make me nervous," said Louisa Castrodale, a state epidemiologist who worked on the report.  

Multiple fire departments responded to a house fire on Poplar Lane in Citronelle Monday. When Citronelle Fire and Rescue arrived at the home, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof. No one was inside the home at the time, and no injuries were reported. Georgetown-Fellowship V.F.D., Oak Grove Volunteer Fire-Rescue, and Calcedeaver Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department were requested as mutual aid. "Please join us in keeping this family in your thoughts and prayers as they have lost almost everything to this fire," Citronelle Fire and Rescue posted on Facebook. "We would like to thank everyone on scene for their assistance, which also includes, Mobile County Dispatch, Mobile County EMS, Citronelle Police Department, as well as the bystanders who provided us with cold waters."  

Hall County Fire Chief Chris Armstrong agreed that when he was a young boy many of his playmates wanted to be firefighters when they grew up, but things often change in the years between youthful dreams and adulthood realities. But for those in whom that childhood ambition still simmers, Armstrong says his department might have just what they are looking for: a career opportunity as a firefighter. At Monday's Hall County Commission work session Armstrong presented commissioners with his department's newest recruiting tool: a three-minute video featuring members of Hall County Fire Services and what they have to say about their work as a first responder. "Every successful organization really starts with good recruiting," Armstrong told commissioners.  

Seven members of the Vestal Fire Department have been answering the call of duty for a combined total of more than 400 years. "It's our job," said Chris Lupold, 71, a 53-year volunteer for the department. "We just keep doing it." Lupold has battled countless blazes during his long firefighting career. Fellow firefighter Carle Truman is the longest-serving member, with 64 years of service. Other veteran Vestal firefighters include Ronald Linfoot, with 60 years of service; Ed Zimmer, 59 years; Gene Wagner, 58 years; Paul Gregson, 57 years; and Robert "Bob" Nasiatka, with 55 years. "They love to stick around to help their community," said Vestal Fire Chief John Paffie. "They stick around to be mentors to the people that are underneath them, people like me. I still look up to them. I still ask them questions. I still learn from them."  

VIDEO: Normally when you hear about firefighters and car wrecks, it's the firefighter who is responding to the incident, not getting into them. While Washington County firefighter Chandler Fishack has completed numerous extrications, he also has a knack for taking cars apart to turn them into demolition derby cars. Fishack will be competing in his 6th demolition derby during this year's Washington County Ag Expo and he couldn't be more excited. He explains the process of creating a demolition derby car is not like your average trip to the auto body shop. The car must be stripped of all glass and plastic pieces, including windows, mirrors, and head or tail lights. Fishack also welds three of the four car doors shut and also welds metal bars and fencing to replace the now-removed windshield.  

Cheers filled the air as Steve Hines drove the Belmar First Aid Squad's 1938 Ford ambulance one last time. As Hines pressed on the gas Friday, the sirens sung. He gave the 83-year-old ambulance as much gas as it would take to accelerate onto a truck that would drive it approximately 650 miles to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan — the ambulance's new home. Hines said he felt a little emotional. "You know, folks came out and it's a part of history going down the road — good history," he said. Hines was a member of Belmar's First Aid Squad since 1975. His father joined in 1938. "Me and my brother stepped right into the first aid squad because it was something you did back then," said Hines. The squad disbanded in March due to financial strain and now they say goodbye to an ambulance that is symbolic of the squad's history, a history that let go of many ambulances in their time, but not this one.