Browning confirmed that 35 firefighters responded to the scene, a collaborative effort between CES, Nikiski Fire, and Kenai Fire. All three chiefs were also present at the scene.

The most recent PFD payout was in July, in attempt by Governor Mike Dunleavy to stimulate the pandemic-plagued economic downfall last Summer. That payout was for $992.

Heather Handyside of GCI: “We were hoping to receive a meaningful counteroffer from Coastal Television and Vision Alaska so that we could make real progress in negotiations. Unfortunately, yesterday’s proposal brings us no closer to resolution.”

The total amount to be appropriated was $4,035 which came from a November 2020 asset forfeiture. The funds were came from a sharing fund from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly unanimously passed an ordinance on Tuesday, calling for Alaska’s Congressional delegation to put effort into enacting legislation that would “prevent federal pandemic relief funds from being subject to federal income tax.”

Some of the participants in Wednesday’s events are residents of the Kenai Peninsula, one of whom spoke to KSRM from Washington on Wednesday night. Trapper Alsworth gave an eye-witness account, one that began with a speech from President Trump himself.

Passed unanimously on the assembly’s consent agenda, Resolution 2021-003 approved the money which authorized the borough to utilize money “for services to market the borough to a non-areawide basis with a focus on public relations, applying objectives to be approved by the assembly.”

This year’s event will be modified to be a “point-in-time” event, where people who are homeless or near-homeless will be outreached to. Volunteers will provide knowledge, supplies, and food for the two-week stretch from January 27 to February 10.

Nolan Klouda of the University of Alaska Anchorage believes it is fair to expect a slow return for the local economy, as Alaskans still must begin to trust venturing out into the public at a comparable rate to what they did pre-COVID.