Regarding "Muni mulls taking over Chugiak Volunteers" (July 10 Alaska Star), I am outraged by the many misstatements by the city fire department's spokesman and the deputy chief. Anyone who is familiar with the history of the highly respected Chugiak Volunteer Fie Department recognizes the complete lack of veracity those statements reflect.

The following facts are among those that should be considered.

1. People in Chugiak receive the same emergency medical care afforded those in other parts of the municipality. Chugiak Volunteers include certified paramedics as well as emergency medical technicians, fully as qualified as the paid firefighters who are dispatched in case of accident or illness in the city. When they determine that a higher level of care is needed, they routinely request assistance from paramedics at Eagle River.

Many people do not realize that trained medics are spread throughout Chugiak. This puts help practically next door, many miles and many minutes closer than the paid city staff at Eagle River.

2. It is true that the Chugiak equipment is owned by the Municipality, but only because of a technicality. The equipment is purchased by the Municipality, but it is paid for from taxes collected directly from Chugiak residents.

Let me tell you just how well that money is managed -- not by the Municipality of Anchorage but by the Chugiak Board of Supervisors, a three-person group elected by the residents of Chugiak. In the very beginning, it was decided that all purchases would be made with cash, with no debt incurred. The department presently has 19 top-flight pieces of equipment: three fire engines, three tankers, five brush rigs, three ambulances, one airport crash truck, one heavy rescue truck, and three command vehicles. In addition, two other vehicles will be delivered this year: another fire engine and a new heavy rescue rig.

All this equipment is housed in four separate locations within the Chugiak district. Three fire stations owned by Chugiak and an airport crash station keep this state-of-the art apparatus sheltered and ready to roll. They contain enough water to meet requirements to sustain an insurance rating as high as is available to most residents served by the Anchorage Fire Department in non-hydranted areas.

3. The alleged issue of liability arising from the junior firefighter program is bogus. Are they saying that Mayor Begich should disavow the police department's Explorer program, Anchorage Youth Court or any of the other programs that support and encourage participation by young people public service?

4. The unfortunate fire that last year ruined a home in a newly developed area south of the township line dividing Chugiak and Eagle River is being used as a smokescreen in this political ploy. Chugiak plans to build a station to serve that area but is being thwarted by an effort to redraw fire district boundaries. That land grab would also steal a substantial bit of recent commercial and high-density residential development.

Last Thursday's article quoted Assemblyman Dan Kendall as saying the flap is about money. I agree. Chugiak, because its citizens are willing on their own to undergo rigorous training and freely contribute their time to serving their neighbors, is able to operate for less than half the taxes paid by Anchorage residents.

Despite that lower rate, Chugiak (with a population of about 10,000) is able to operate four fully-equipped fire stations as compared to 12 for the city (with 25 times as many residents).

Chugiak, which is debt free, has a fund balance of $1.3 million. Faced with budget cuts, Anchorage is facing closure of some of its existing stations.

When reviewing the current and past comments regarding the "unsuitability" of the volunteer firefighters and the "liability" to the Municipality from the continuation of service by the volunteer fire department, I have to question the real motive. Those who speak out for a change from volunteer to professional status are currently or formerly associated with the city fire department. Perhaps those who are paid to serve know better what kind of service should be provided than those who are served, but I am not convinced that is so. The impetus for this latest move to do away with volunteer public service is said to be the report to our new mayor from his transition team.

Having been part of the transition effort for the mayor of the Chugiak-Eagle River Borough (197?) and also for that of former Mayor-elect Tom Fink, I know first-hand of the input from supporters who want to see changes that feather their own nests. Those who represent the city employee groups hope that Mayor Begich will grant concessions denied by previous administrations. Dumping volunteerism is one such concession.

Anchorage's new mayor in the past has strongly supported the Municipal Charter and its provisions for service districts such as the Chugiak Fire Service Area and the Chugiak-Eagle River parks and recreation and limited road service areas. It would be a tragedy to see him turn his back on them now.

I am one who fought vigorously to secure and preserve the service district provision in the Charter. It was our only remaining hope after our attempt at independence was denied a quarter of a century ago. I will fight even harder to defend it now.

Lee Jordan of Birchwood is founder and former publisher of the Alaska Star