Fire Chief George Burns
May 19, 1964
Anchorage Fire Department
Chief Burns was the Fire Chief of the Anchorage Fire Department from June of 1949 through May of 1964. He was the Fire Chief for this city for 15 years. He was also the Fire Chief at Ft. Richardson for 3 years prior to that. He was a command fire officer in this area for 18 years. On the evening of May 19, 1964 after having recently left the old AFD Station 1, Chief Burns suffered a severe stroke and heart attack. He had suffered a work related stroke approximately 3 years earlier, and had just come through possibly the most difficult emergency response time for the Anchorage Fire Department; the 1964 earthquake. On the evening that he died, he left work a little early, and was heading to a special presentation banquet in his honor; a banquet for him; thanking him for his years of service with the city and local area.
During the 2016 September 11th Firefighter Memorial ceremony Chief Burns was recognized and remembered. Placing his plaque on the wall and reminding us all that he will Never Be Forgotten were:
a. Craig Goodrich ---- Retired Anchorage Fire Chief and State Fire Marshal
b. Jodie Hettrick --- Deputy Chief for the Anchorage Fire Department