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Mother, 3 children taken from tent camp
INTERVENTION: Concern for toddlers' safety in remote site prompts troopers'
action.

By TATABOLINE BRANT
Anchorage Daily News

(Published: December 18, 2004)
 
Alaska State Troopers on Thursday picked up a mother and her three young 
children
who were living in a canvas tent in a remote area near McGrath after fears 
arose
about the welfare of the children.

Authorities flew to the site unannounced in sub-zero weather after getting
numerous reports since fall that the family, which also included a man who 
came
in on his own, was ill equipped to be living in the rugged, frigid area with
youngsters.

All three children -- 1 ½ -year-old twin boys and their 4-year-old brother --
were found to be generally healthy "but cold and very soiled," said trooper 
Brett
Gibbens, who is investigating the case. 

The family had been living in a small, un-insulated and poorly heated canvas 
tent
since at least late fall on a plot of land about 30 miles northwest of 
McGrath,
officials said. 

Troopers refused to release the names of the family. Gibbens said he did not 
know
where the family was from originally, but said they had been living in and 
around
McGrath for about six years.

A number of local residents had expressed concern to troopers since October 
about
the safety of the children, Gibbens said. People were worried that the family 
had
run out of dry clothes and diapers and was not equipped to deal with colder
winter temperatures, he said.

Gibbens said he kept tabs on the family, flying over their tent several times
over the last three weeks to make sure smoke was still coming out of their
chimney. The tent was heated with a small wood stove and small oil heater, he
said. 

Gibbens said he decided to intervene Thursday because of the onset of more 
severe
cold. He said McGrath city officials assisted by lining up temporary housing 
for
the family for one month. The city's mayor could not be reached Friday for
comment. 

It was 5 below zero when Gibbens and a local pilot flew to the site Thursday.
Gibbens said the parents were surprised to see him, yet "generally 
cooperative."

All five members of the family were living inside the small tent with their 
gear,
Gibbens said. "They didn't have an alternate storage or living space of any
kind," he said.

The 4-year-old was wearing a sweatshirt with a hood, a denim jacket, partially
wet blue jeans, gloves, winter boots missing a lace and no socks, Gibbens 
said.
The two toddlers were clothed in snowsuits, but had no socks and their boots 
and
mittens were too big and kept falling off. 

The family ran both their wood and oil stoves when it got below zero to stay
warm, Gibbens said. "They were virtually out of oil," he said.

Gibbens said the children appeared to be well fed.

The mother and children and their gear were flown to McGrath Thursday, Gibbens
said. There was no room in the plane for the father, who instead came into 
town
on a snowmachine, he said. 

The children were examined at a local clinic and released back to their 
parents,
officials said.

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