The Anchorage Fire Department has partnered with the Anchorage School District and the MOA Parks & Recreation Department to mitigate the risk and hazard of wildfire. This project, which begins Monday, January 29, will thin the forested perimeter around both Hanshew Middle and Springhill Elementary Schools, which are both adjacent to Ruth Arcand Park.

This project will reduce the volume of surrounding forest fuels. This will reduce the school’s exposure to wildfire and also reduce the potential for fires to start in the treated areas.

The focus is to limit the school’s exposure to wildfire by working both in the perimeter around the schools and in the adjacent MOA park land. Crews will remove the spruce bark beetle killed trees and thin dense growing conifers to improve forest health. AFD will plant spruce seedlings and grass where needed in the spring.

Please contact AFD Forester Sue Barkwood for more information at 267-4902.

Avalanche Closes Hiland Road

The Anchorage Police Department received information that an avalanche had occurred on Hiland Road at Mile 7.5.  It was reported to be approximately 8 feet in depth with an unknown width.  The Eagle River Street Maintenance Department was immediately notified as was Station 11 of the Anchorage Fire Department.  APD arrived and advised that the a bulldozer and a grader would be required to clear the road.  Additionally, it did not appear to involve any residence or moving vehicles and advised that any fire units could cancel.

For further information, contact the Public Affairs Office of the Anchorage Police Department or the MOA Street Maintenance Department during normal business hours.

Home Suffers Major Damage from Garage Fire

Fire Destroys

State of Alaska Dept. of Transportation

Building and Equipment

At approximately 0620 hrs on Sunday, January 21st, the Anchorage Fire Department Communications Center received calls of smoke and fire coming from the State of Alaska Dept. of Transportation building on Toadstool Drive off of the Seward Hwy in Girdwood.  The Girdwood Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched and immediately requested additional resources from Anchorage.  In total, 13 units responded and worked various aspects of the fire which took approximately 3 hours to bring under control.

The building which housed various pieces of equipment and multiple flammable sources such as diesel fuel and acetylene, was deemed a complete loss as was the equipment inside.

At the time of this writing, the cause of the fire is still unknown and the extent of the damage exceed $1 million dollars.

For further information, contact Chief Bill Chadwick at 783-2332 or Asst. Chief Terry Kadel at Girdwood Fire Station 783-2511.

Fire Makes East Side Home Uninhabitable

Sunday Night Fire Damages Structure

Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sunday evening Anchorage Fire Department dispatched 13 units to 8712 Seemie St., in the area of Abbott Road and Lake Otis.  Initial reports to AFD Dispatchers came from neighbors reporting what they believed to be exhaust collecting in the eve area of the roof, possibly from a running vehicle in the adjacent alleyway.  The first truck company from Fire Station #12 at Homer and 80^th arrived within minutes and called a working fire with smoke venting from the roof area.  The structure was unoccupied and fire crews had to use forcible entry to begin battling the blaze.  Their quick attack brought the fire under control in about 15 minutes and damage was contained to the interior of the structure.  It appeared the structure had been converted from a single family dwelling to an office, although there was no business name available.  The fire caused an estimated $40,000 in damage to the structure and no estimate to loss of contents.  There were no injuries or displacement caused by the fire.  Initial investigation determined the cause of the fire was most likely electrical in nature.

At approx 1331hrs, 17 units from the Anchorage Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire at 20300 block of Eagle River Rd with reports of children inside. Several additional units were added to the response. The first unit arrived on location and advised there was smoke showing. There were four children taken to local hospitals. Two others made it outside of the residence on their own and called 911 from a neighbor’s house. The fire is still under investigation at this time.  

Anchorage Fire Department

Saturday January 6th, 2007

Eagle River Fire Fatality

The Anchorage Fire Department received the report of a structure fire at 20311 Eagle River Road at approx. 1:30 pm.

First arriving units from the Eagle River Fire Station reported a 2 level home with smoke showing from the second floor. There were reports of children still in the structure.  Prior to the arrival of the fire department two men driving down Eagle River stopped and made attempts to enter the structure on fire but were unable because of the heavy smoke.  Engine 11  arrived on location minutes later and made entry and knocked the immediate fire down while they made thier way to the second floor where they discovered four children who were victims of the smoke and flames.  They were assisted by the bystanders in moving the children to the medic unit. One child died in this fire. Three other children were treated at local hospitals and were reportedly transported to Harborview Hospital in Seattle suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. No cause of the fire has been determined at this time. Investigators are still on the scene. The fire extensively damaged the single family residence.

Tom Kempton 317-7233   6:00 PM

At 2219hrs, 14 units responded to the report of a structure fire at 1200 W Dimond, Dimond Estates Trailer Court. The first unit arrived on location at 2227hrs and advised there was smoke showing from the trailer. The fire was placed under control at 2241hrs. The fire was contained to the kitchen area, but there was smoke damage throughout. The damage was estimated at $25,000 and the occupants were displaced. The fire is still under investigation.