ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A tradition across the nation, Anchorage Fire Department excels at filling their boots with donations toward the Muscular Dystrophy Association. According to Fill the Boot and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, it all began in Boston, 1954. When families asked a local fire department to help them collect money for their family members affected by muscular dystrophy, the fire fighters instantly took to the streets to ask for donations.