2nd Alarm Called for Large Apartment Building Fire

Sunday 5-11-08

Contact Battalion Chief Tom Kempton 317-7233

Reports of fire and smoke from a basement laundry room and exterior entrance sent 19 units of the Anchorage Fire Department to the Alpine Apartments 5311 Mockingbird lane.

Engine 4 from the Tudor Road fire station was first on the scene and as firefighters evacuated the  large apartment complex Captin Blake Linsoe called a 2nd alarm to bring added manpower for this 25 unit, 4 story building.  Fire was climbing the exterior of the building near the entrance and residents were reporting heavy smoke on all floors.

Firefighters outside quickly knocked the exterior fire down and disconnected electrical power to the building before they begain removing the siding and extinguishing pockets of fire in the walls and crawl space. Firefighters made entry to the electrical and laundry room in the basement and after opening up the floors and making an access into the crawl space beneath the building, were able to extinguish the fire in that area. 

A second alarm assignment of addtional manpower and equipment stood by for assistance but ultimately was not needed.  Captain Linsoe said that it appeared that the fire started on the exterior, possibly from a carelessly discarded cigarrette in combustible landscaping materials and peat soil where it ignited the framing and siding materials and then moved into the walls and the crawl space.

Damage was estimated at $75,000. There were no reported injuries. The owners of the apartment building will attempt to restore power so that tenants can reoccupy their units by tonight. There will be some minor smoke damage to adjoining units. 

Overnight Fire in Beauty Salon 210 E. Fireweed Lane

5-10-08

Contact Battalion Chief Tom Kempton 317-7233

Upstairs tenants were alerted to a fire in a daylight basement beauty salon by a loud explosion, possibly from the superheated gases of a backdraft explosion, according to Anchorage Fire Department Captain Ursa Lively. The tenants had been playing amplified musical instruments and had not been alerted to the fire by smoke detectors that had been sounding. The 911 call came in at 3:36 AM and Capt. Lively and the Engine 4 crew from the Tudor Road Fire Station were first on location. They reported heavy smoke and flames from the daylight basement beauty salon. Capt. Lively and her crew were able to quickly knock the fire down and contain it to the basement area. The cause of the fire is thought to be electrical and associated with either an overloaded socket or some electrical appliance left on. Damage is estimated at $10,000 in property and $30,000 to the structure. One upstairs tenant was displaced by the fire and the Alaska Chapter of the American Red Cross will be providing assistance to him. 

Firefighters from the Anchorage Fire Department were on location in 4 minutues and 11 units eventually responded.

Structure Fire 4014 Wright Street

5-9-2008

Contact Battalion Chief Tom Kempton 317-7233

A passerby phoned 911 this afternoon at 4:09 PM to report heavy smoke coming from the second floor of a duplex at 4014 Wright Street, south of Providence Hospital.  Anchorage Police Officer Justin Doll arrived before firefighters and made sure no one was in the unit on fire.  He then made his way next door and was able to alert the neighbors in the adjoining unit that there was a fire.  The female occupant had been taking a shower and was unaware of the fire danger. Officer Doll assisted the occupant and carried her infant from the building to safety.

The first arriving unit was Engine 12 who had been in the area picking up some equipment. Captain  Pat Gregg set up command and began firefighting operations. Firefighters made their way to the second floor bedroom of the south unit where the fire apparently originated.Heavy fire and smoke from this bedroom and a celing that collapsed made firefighting difficult.  Firefighters made a quick search of the building and were able to rescue three pets that had been inside. No other occupants were present.  The fire had burst through the second floor window and into the ceiling area of both units and apparently traveled outside the window into the unit next door where Officer Doll had evacuated the residents.

Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control in about 20 minutes. Eventually twelve units of the Anchorage Fire Department were involved in controlling the fire.

Several of the pets that were rescued from the structure were revived by firefighters using specially developed oxygen masks.  Animal control was summoned to the scene and transported the animals, described as a small dog and two cats.  

Damage to this duplex is extensive and is estimated at approx. $100,000.  The residents of the unit where the fire orignated were not at home at the time of the fire. No obvious cause of the fire has been determined and the investigation is continuing.

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 4^th – 10^th
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

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 150^th 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.