Vehicle Accident Involving Medic Unit

Shortly after 8 am this morning, Medic 3 from the Airport Heights Station was involved in a vehicle accident while transporting a patient from the Mt. View area.  M-3 was transporting a male patient with a traumatic injury Code Red to Alaska Regional Hospital.  2 Firefighter Paramedics and 1 Firefighter Emergency Medical Technician were with the patient in the back of the ambulance when their vehicle was struck by an SUV at Glenn Highway and Airport Heights.   Additional medic units and fire apparatus were dispatched to the accident scene at Airport Heights as well as the Anchorage Police Department.  2 Firefighters sustained injuries and were  transported to the hospital as well as the initial patient from Mt. View.  The Anchorage Police Department  is investigating the accident.  Medic 3 sustained major damage to the right rear of the vehicle.

Bridget Bushue

Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention

(907) 267-4982

An early morning blaze was reported by neighbors who noticed smoke and fire coming from a large apartment complex at 140 Oklahoma St.  Thirteen units from the Anchorage Fire Department were immediately dispatched and shortly after an additional six units were dispatched for a Second Alarm to standby.  The first arriving engine company within minutes reported heavy smoke coming from a 3rd floor unit and initiated a fast attack.  It was reported that an occupant was trapped in the fire unit, however everyone had evacuated before fire crews arrived.  One fire victim was transported to an area hospital with injuries resulting from the fire.  The patient is in stable condition.   The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes after the initial report.  Three Anchorage Fire Department Investigators responded to the scene.  The cause of the fire is combustibles too close to a heat source.  Damage is estimated at $100,000.  The American Red Cross responded to the scene also to assist with housing needs for displaced residents.  Initial reports indicate that one unit in the complex suffered severe fire damage and at least three other units suffered smoke and water damage.  A one year old puppy perished in the fire.   

Eagle River Duplex Sustains Major Damage

From Garage Fire

On Tuesday, December 26^th at approximately 11:00 AM, the Anchorage Fire Department Communications Center received a call from a caller on the Glen Hwy west of the North Eagle River Exit reporting smoke coming from a residence on the North side of the highway.  Additional calls reporting smoke and flames coming from a duplex located in the 13000 block of Ridd Circle.  Twelve units were dispatched to the fire.  The first unit arrived on location four minutes after the initial dispatch and reported a working fire with smoke coming from the garage area.  The fire, which was called under control 13 minutes after the first unit’s arrival, was mostly contained to the garage area with one side of the duplex sustaining heavy smoke and water damage.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation and the estimated damages include $100,000 to the structure and $15,000 to the contents.

Fire Destroys Muldoon Home

A late afternoon fire destroyed a Muldoon home the day before Christmas.  It doesn’t appear that anyone was home when the fire was discovered by neighbors who called 911 and reported flames visible from the structure.  11 units with the Anchorage Fire Department were dispatched and the first arriving engine company minutes later called a working fire.  The home was described as a one story single family modular type home with an attached garage and was 70% involved.  First arriving crews initially began an exterior attack due to the fire venting from the structure, and shortly thereafter began offensive operations with an interior attack.  The fire had spread throughout the home and into the garage area requiring several crews to suppress the flames.  Additional crews were needed to protect exposures to the rear of the home and prevented the fire from spreading to these structures. The fire was reported under control about 40 minutes after the initial call.  Fire crews remained on location for several hours conducting overhaul operations extinguishing hot spots and salvage detail.  An investigation revealed the fire started in the kitchen area and was likely caused by unattended cooking.  About 80% of the home suffered extensive fire damage causing over $100,000 in loss to the structure and another estimated $20,000 loss to contents.  The homeowners were out of town when the blaze occurred and the person caring for the home has other accommodations.   Many kitchen fires have a common theme in that their origin is traced back to unattended cooking.  The fire department emphasizes these fires are preventable and to have an appropriately rated fire extinguisher in the kitchen area.  Homeowners are encouraged to contact civilian fire protection agencies listed in the yellow pages to purchase fire extinguishers and have those currently owned serviced.

At 6:30am this morning the Anchorage Fire Department Communications center received a 9-1-1 call reporting flames and smoke coming out of Wayne’s Texas Barbecue which is located at 3400 C street. 

Eleven units from the Anchorage Fire Department were dispatched to the reported structure fire.  First arriving unit on location arrived at 06:35 am confirming the initial report of smoke and flames visible from the south side of the structure.  The fire was brought under control at 07:13am.  At the time of this release AFD personnel are still on location and the cause of the fire is under investigation.