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| For more information about anything presented in these media releases, please contact Tom Kempton with AFD Public Affairs: |
| Phone: 267-4999 |
Cell: 317-7233 |
| Pager: 762-0543 |
Email: Tom Kempton |
www.afdfireinfo.com
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Kitchen Fire 8320 Burnett Drive
5-8-2008
Contact Battalion Chief Tom Kempton 317-7233
A kitchen fire caused by flaming grease on a stove caused $50,000 damage and sent a teenage to a local hospital with a burn to his hand. A neighbor called 911 reporting smoke coming fom 8310 Burnett Drive off of Arctic Blvd at 2:40 Pm this afternoon. First arriving units of the Anchorae Fire Department reported heavy smoke from the upstairs of this split level home. Engine 12 from the Dimond area fire station was first on location in 6 minutes and was joined by seven additional units. The fire was knocked down and called under control in 10 minutes.
A teenager was reportedly cooking food in oil on the stove and it caught fire and spread to cabinents and the kitchen. Damage was esitimated at $50,000 with the kitchen receiving the majority of the damage but the bedrooms and living space on the second level received havy smoke and heat damage in the fire. Firefighters were able to knock the fire down before it spread into the attic or out of the kitchen area.
The teenage was transported to a local emergency room with a minor burn to one hand.
The home will not be habitable until slavage work can be done and electrical and other utiliites are restored. The family did not request Red Cross assistance.
Kitchen fires and fires involving grease fires on a stove are unfortunatly a very common occurance in Anchorage. If a fire starts in a pan on the stove, turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid to smother the flames and if safe to do so remove the pan from the heat. Do not attempt to carry the pan out of the dwelling, serious burns from flaming grease can result. Evacute the area and call 911 and let firefighters extinguish the flames.
Girdwood Fire Department and
Anchorage Fire Department Dive Team
Respond to Possible Ice Rescue at Portage Lake
5-7-08
Contact Tom Kempton 907-317-7233
At 4:05 PM today a 911 caller on the access road to the Whittier Tunnel near Portage Glacier Lake reported sighting a dog circling a hole in the lake ice. The caller suspected that someone had fallen into the lake while walking on the ice. The caller spotted the dog from the tunnel access road, north side of Portae Glacier Lake just before the first tunnel.
Three units from the Girdwood Fire Department as well as the Dive Rescue Team from the Anchorage Fire Department were summoned to the scene. Chief Bill Chandwick from the Girdwood Fire Department described the conditions as very dangerous to rescuers with high winds, rain with open water on the lake and the evidence of a recent avalance that had carried out onto the lake ice. An Alaska State Trooper Helicopter responded and was unable to spot anyone in the water. Recent dog tracks were seen on the lake ice in the area indicated by the caller but the dog was not located either.
Because of the treacherous conditions and without a victim being located, Chief Chadwick released the fire department rescue units at 6:55 PM Chadwick did report that an abandoned vehicle was present in the Portage Glacier parking lot.
The Alaska State Troopers took over the scene.
Anchorage Fire Department
5.06.08
Western Fire Chiefs Meet in Anchorage for Strategic Planning
The Alaska Fire Chiefs Association is hosting the Western Fire Chiefs Association for their annual President’s Forum this week in Anchorage. The forum takes place on Thursday, May 8 at the Anchorage Marriott and is part of a 3 day Western Fire Chiefs meeting, May 7 - 9. Municipal Manager Mike Abbott will offer welcoming remarks.
The Western Fire Chiefs Association “supports, promotes, and develops Chief Officers in the ten states that comprise the Western Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and furthers the interests of prevention, control, and mitigation of fire, life safety, and all hazards in our region.” Fire Chiefs and State Fire Marshals from 10 Western States including Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah will be in Anchorage this week for strategic planning and legislative affairs.
More information about the Alaska Fire Chief’s Association is available at www.alaskafirechiefs.org and Western Fire Chief’s Association at www.wfca.com.
Contact Alaska Fire Chief’s Association President, Deputy Chief Doug Schrage for more information at 267-4945.
Anchorage Fire Department
Press Release
5.05.08
National Arson Awareness Week … May 4th – 10th
Toylike Lighters: Playing with Fire
The theme for this year’s Arson Awareness Week is “Toylike Lighters—Playing with Fire.” The goal is to focus public attention on the dangers of these lighters in the hands of children.
Novelty lighters that resemble toys have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and accidents across the United States. Many of these lighters look like animals, cars, phones, cameras, fishing lures, coins, markers, and doll accessories. One lighter is nearly identical to the popular rubber ducky bath toy—it even quacks! There are also toylike and novelty lighters that look like tools such as tape measures, drills, hammers, and paint brushes. Ironically, there are even lighters that mimic a Dalmatian donning a fire helmet, a red fire truck, or fire extinguishers.
All of our local fire officials, the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association along with the Alaska State Fire Marshal as well as fire professionals from across the nation want to make our citizens aware of the problems with novelty lighters and how dangerous they are to our children and to adults. Even local merchants are taking a stand against novelty lighters. OK Lumber/ Ace Hardware manager Jordan Halden has pulled all the novelty lighters off his shelves and has stopped selling them.
For more information, please call Niki Pereira with Firestoppers at 346-2888 or visit http://www.muni.org/fire.
Anchorage Fire Department
05.03.08
Contact Jennifer Klugh 317-9929
At approximately 11:30 am this morning, AFD Communications received a 911 call reporting black smoke originating from a home near Aero Avenue or Corona Circle. Within four minutes, Engine 5 arrived on scene at 3503 Corona Circle to a two-story wood frame duplex with heavy black smoke coming from a second floor window. The resident of the structure was on the roof, attempting to extinguish flames through the eaves with a garden hose. Crews called a working fire and quickly made entry into the structure to extinguish the fire. The fire was knocked down within 10 minutes and fire damage was contained to the bedroom, with extensive smoke damage to the attic and surrounding bedroom. The fire did not spread to the adjacent unit of the duplex.
The fire originated in a bedroom and was electrical in nature; however the exact cause is currently being investigated. Damage is estimated at $30,000. No injuries were reported.
The Anchorage Fire Department reminds you to please leave firefighting to professionals. Firefighters wear head-to-toe personal protective equipment including air packs, helmets, and Nomex pants and coats. Without this protection, even a relatively small fire can cause severe personal injury including smoke inhalation and burns.
Anchorage Fire Department
05.03.08
Contact Jennifer Klugh 317-9929
Around 11:30am this morning, AFD Communications received a 911 call from a passer by reporting a fire near Aero Avenue and Corona Circle. Within four minutes, Engine 5 arrived at 3503 Corona Circle, a two-story wood frame duplex where with black smoke emitting from an upstairs window. Crews called a working fire and quickly began to extinguish the fire located in a second-floor bedroom. The resident of the structure was on the roof attempting to extinguish the flames through the eaves.
Firefighters knocked down the fire in less than ten minutes; preventiung extenside fire damage to surrounding rooms and the attached unit next door. Smoke damage was present throughout the second floor and into the attic. Damage is estimated at $30,000. The cause of the fire is being investigated and likely electrical in origin. No injuries were reported.
Anchorage Fire Department
05.01.08
Contact Jennifer Klugh 317-9929
Just after 10:00 am this morning, AFD Communications received a 911 call reporting a fire in a Recreational Vehicle at 15030 Snowshoe Ln. The caller was a neighbor directly adjacent to the home. Within minutes, Engine 10 from the Rabbit Creek Station arrived on scene and discovered the fire was actually located at 3340 East 150th Ave. They called a working fire for a vehicle fire near a structure with extension to the exterior of the south side of the home due to intense radiant heat from the RV.
Firefighters made a fast attack to extinguish the fully involved RV and the fire on the exterior of the log structure. Quick action by crews prevented extension of the fire to the inside the home. The fire began when the owner was starting the vehicle. He heard backfiring and then noticed smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. He attempted to extinguish it with a home fire extinguisher and was unsuccessful in his attempts.
The 1986 Class C RV was deemed a total loss and there was damage to the outside of the structure with minor smoke affecting the inside of the home. Damage is estimated at $20,000. No injuries were reported.
The Anchorage Fire Department reminds you to ensure when calling 911 you are giving correct information to dispatchers. In an emergency, seconds count.
Anchorage Fire Department
04.30.08
Contact Jennifer Klugh 317-9929
Wildfire Mitigation Project on Campbell Creek Greenbelt
To mitigate the risk and hazard of wildfire in the neighborhood, the Anchorage Fire Department has partnered with the MOA Parks & Recreation Department to treat the greenbelt of Campbell Creek from Taku Elementary to Dowling Road. To maintain the integrity of the stream protection zone, forest treatment will only be done east of the trail. All spruce bark beetle killed trees will be removed. Additionally, black spruce trees will be thinned and pruned to leave healthy trees. This project will limit the available fuel for camp fires and increase the visibility into the forest. Crews will be working in the area beginning April 30, 2008.
What is the risk of fire in the greenbelt?
There has been evidence of fire use in the Campbell Creek greenbelt over the past several years. Dense trees and fallen limbs provide the fuel for these fires. By thinning out the forest and pruning the live residual trees, less fuel (wood) is available to burn. Also, the increased visibility into the forest dissuades fire use.
What is Firewise?
The Anchorage Fire Department uses the national Firewise home protection principles to reduce the potential for wildfires to spread to homes. Firewise is everyone’s responsibility. Managing our forests for fire and resistance to bark beetles supports green, vibrant trees on both private and public lands.
What is the forest treatment planned for the greenbelt?
In an effort to keep a forest fire from spreading into the surrounding neighborhood and to support the growth and vigor of live trees, the forest treatment project will carefully remove and limb trees. In some areas, dense black spruce will be thinned to leave clumps of healthy residual trees. Improving forest health in this park may be accomplished by pruning the live, residual trees to stave off a future bark beetle attack. Dead trees will be removed, both standing and downed. Tree limbs will be chipped. This project is expected to begin on April 30, 2008. Tree thinning will be done by the State of Alaska Pioneer Peak Crew. These are professional firefighters working on fire mitigation projects in the Anchorage area since 2001. Chipping will be done by a private contractor Fuels Reduction of Alaska. This crew is on contract with the Anchorage Fire Department.
Anchorage Fire Department
April 2008
Contact Cleo Hill 317-8684
At approximately 5 pm this evening, Anchorage Fire Dispatchers received numerous 911 calls reporting a structure fire on Doil Street, off Dowling Road. 10 Emergency vehicles responded from the Tudor Road, Dimond, Campbell Airstrip and Spenard Stations. Heavy wet snow and snarled traffic added to the response. Units on location found the duplex 50% involved with fire. The fire continued to spread through the attic to the other side of the 2 unit home.
All occupants were out of the duplex and there are no injuries, however one family dog and 2 cats are still being searched for. Several dogs were able to escape on their own. One side of the duplex is considered to be a total loss, with preliminary estimates of damage to the entire structure of $350,000, plus contents. The 2nd unit has smoke and water damage, but no fire damage.
The fire started when one of the occupants attempted to light his barbeque grill on the rear deck. The hose line from the propane tank to the grill failed and the propane ignited from the hose. The occupant attempted to extinguish the fire with water and then an extinguisher, but the propane tank tipped over and rolled to the doorway of the dinning room spreading fire to the walls and carpet.
Even with today's surprise spring snow fall, Anchorage residents are thinking about grilling and other summer activities. Before using your gas grill, be sure to check your propane tank and supply hose for leaks, excess wear and damage. If your grill has been outside all winter, the supply hose could have weather damage.
Most people have put away their snow shovels, but remember that emergency vehicles need a clear path to respond to your emergency. Be sure to park cars out of the traffic lane and never closer than 15 feet to a hydrant. If you have a hydrant in your neighborhood that is bagged, be sure to contact AWWU for repairs.
Campbell Tract Garage Fire
Anchorage Fire Department Communications Center was alerted by 911 callers of a house fire at 6430 Coach Circle just before 9 p.m. The home is located in a Campbell Tract subdivision west of Elmore Road and 68th Avenue. One of the callers was the homeowner reporting a fire in the attached garage of his single family residence.
Less than one minute from the first call being received eleven AFD units were dispatched to the fire. Truck 12 from the Dimond and Seward Highway area station was the first arriving crew within four minutes and called a Working Fire. They initiated a fast attack into the garage as additional arriving crews assisted with ventilation and a water supply. The quick actions of the responders brought the fire under control in five minutes and prevented extension into the living area.
All occupants and the family pets safely evacuated unharmed prior to the arrival of fire department personnel. No fire crew injuries were reported and Red Cross Assistance was not needed. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, possibly resulting from the homeowner working on a motorcycle. Fire damage was contained to the garage area with some smoke damage into the living areas. Restoration estimates are in the area of $10K.
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