Four-Plex Fire

A few minutes after 5:00 PM, the Anchorage Fire Department Communications Center received a single 9-1-1 call of a fire inside a lower unit of a four-plex in the 1500 block of Alpenhorn Avenue off of Brayton Drive, just south of Tudor Road and the Seward Hwy.  Eleven units was dispatched.  The first unit arrived five minutes after the initial dispatch and reported the 1st floor of the complex was 50% involved with fire extending into the 2nd floor as well as the roof.  The fire was brought under control approximately 40 minutes after the initial call.  Crews administered oxygen via donated pet mask to a cat pulled from the fire until owners arrived to transport cat to pet emergency.    Damages are estimated at 250K; no details as to the cause of the fire.

For additional information, contact Public Affairs Division Chief Bridget Bushue for additional information. 

Red Flag Warning in Effect:
Anchorage Fire Department Reminds Residents about Safety

Contact Jennifer Klugh 317-9929

Many Anchorage residents are looking forward to enjoying time outside basking in the current warm weather.  AFD reminds you to be extremely careful when using recreational fire with these activities.  The current weather conditions bring an increased risk of wildland fire, as residents of south central Alaska have witnessed in the previous week with the numerous brush fires in the area.  Today there is a “Red Flag” warning in effect for the Municipality of Anchorage.  This means that temperatures, humidity and winds that contribute to extreme fire weather conditions are occurring or forecasted to occur.  For more information on Red Flag Warnings, visit www.afdfireinfo.com.

These regulations are for the Municipality of Anchorage, if you are in Chugach State Park or the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, please check local restrictions.

Recreational Fires:

A recreational fire (such as a campfire) must be contained in a pit less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height and at least 25 feet from combustible materials. They do not require a permit; however, people wishing to enjoy recreational fires must comply with the daily burn approval notice recorded at 267-5020.  During Red Flag warnings, recreational fires are not allowed.

Fires contained in an approved outdoor fireplace or barbeque grill:

These fires must be contained within the device and have an area of less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. They must be placed on a non-combustible surface or at least 12 inches from the ground with a screen or lid covering the top.  The fire must be located at least 15 feet from adjacent structures. These contained fires do not require a permit and are allowed even if burning is not approved for open fires at 267-5020.

Spruce beetle killed wood:

Residents intending to burn spruce beetle killed debris must obtain a burn permit and comply with all burn guidelines and the daily burn approval notice recorded at 267-5020. Due to high fire danger at this time, it is unlikely that burning will be approved for several days. You are responsible for your fire and you are liable if it gets out of control!

As an alternative to burning, there are several free wood lots available for the disposal of woody debris – no stumps, grass, lumber or trash are accepted.

Eagle River Brush Fire

   Shortly after noon today several callers notified 911 of a substantial column of smoke emitting from the peak above Steeple Drive in the Eagle River Valley.  Crews responded from Anchorage Fire Department at Station 11 in Eagle River, Rotor One (AFD’s wildfire suppression helicopter), and the Division of Forestry Helitack in Palmer.  

When arriving on scene, crews discovered a slow spreading ¼ acre brush fire near a well used hiking trail burning in alder leaf litter and grass.  Winds were up slope at around 5 mph and pushing the fire away from homes, which were about 100 yards away. 

   Engine 11 crew members provided ground support in partnership with 5 members from Mat-Su Helitack while Rotor One dropped 7 buckets of water on the ¼ acre brush fire.  Each bucket drop contains approximately 300 gallons of water which was dipped from a pond adjacent to Eagle River.  The fire was under control at 1:50 pm and Mat-Su Helitack remained on scene to ensure the extinguishment of any remaining hot spots.  Initial reports by crews determine the cause to be a camp fire.

For more information, please contact Jen Klugh at 317-9929.

Car Fire Damages Building

Monday evening at 8:20 p.m. 11 units from the Anchorage Fire Department were dispatched to a business near 305 W. Dimond Blvd. for a reported vehicle fire, spreading to the building.  The building was later confirmed to be the Nova Property Management Building located at 8340 Rainy Place.  Initial calls received by AFD Dispatchers indicated only the vehicle was on fire, but subsequent callers reported the vehicle was against the building and the fire had ignited the exterior of the structure.

Engine 4, temporarily assigned to Fire Station 12 at Homer and 80^th while the MacInnes Fire Station is re-constructed, was the first unit on location within four minutes.  They confirmed the exterior of the building was ablaze and initiated a quick attack.  Additional arriving units assisted with water supply, ventilation and checked for fire extension into the structure.  The fire was brought under control in just over 15 minutes, and damage was contained to the back wall and soffit area at the rear of the building.  Damages were estimated at $15,000.  No fire ground or civilian injuries were reported and no assistance was needed from the Red Cross.

The fire originated from an older model Ford Bronco II, although it’s unknown what caused the vehicle to ignite.  Fire Officials interviewed the car owner who mentioned having just purchased the vehicle recently.  Upon parking at the rear of the building the vehicle’s standard transmission was left in gear, and the parking brake was not set.  For unknown reasons the vehicle lurched forward making contact with the structure.  The fire either began before or after hitting the building, making it unclear if the fire caused the vehicle to lurch forward or the impact with the building caused the vehicle to catch fire.

Lower Hillside Home Damaged by Fire

Fifteen units from the Anchorage Fire Department were dispatched at 12:40 a.m. this morning, June 13, 2007 for reported structure fire at 5000 O’Malley Road.  AFD Dispatchers answered the 911 call from the homeowner who had just returned home and found smoke in the residence.

The first arriving units from the O’Malley and Huffman Fire Stations reported smoke showing from a two story single family dwelling and initiated a fast attack.  Interior crews found the residence charged with smoke and discovered fire burning in the attached garage, and called a working fire.  Truck company crews from the Homer and 80^th Fire Station assisted with forcing the garage bay door open for easier access to the fire.  Water operations were established with three Tenders from the Hillside and Huffman stations, and additional arriving crews assisted with suppression efforts and checking for fire extension. The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes. 

The fire damage was contained to the garage area, and the home sustained smoke damage resulting from an entry door that was propped open leading into the living area.  Fire officials believe the fire was likely caused by a battery charger left on with combustible materials in close proximity.  The fire caused an estimated $30,000 in damage to the structure and contents.  There were no fire ground injuries or other loss of life.

Fire Department Officials want to remind homeowners that propping garage doors open leading into living areas is dangerous for several reasons; garage entry doors are required by building code to be fire rated which slows the fire from accessing these areas, garages often contain combustible materials which increases the likely hood of rapid fire growth, and many different types of accelerants are often stored in garages which not only fuel a fire but fumes can wafer into living areas even if no fire is burning.  Lastly, officials remind residents that battery charging should always be done in well ventilated areas and combustible materials should be placed at safe distances from the charger.

Anchorage Fire Department

06-07-2007

Contact Jennifer Klugh 317-9929

Anchorage Fire Department to Hold Annual Open House Saturday, June 9

The Anchorage Fire Department and the Anchorage Firefighters Local 1264 are pleased to announce our Annual Open House, scheduled for Saturday, June 9^th from 10am until 4pm.  It is being held behind the AFD Fire Training Center, 1140 Airport Heights.

Activities planned include fire truck displays, a Kiddie Combat Challenge and a free BBQ. Our fire department specialty teams will be holding demonstrations to illustrate their rescue techniques, including structural collapse, hazardous-materials, rope rescue and vehicle extrication. AFD will have on display the wildfire suppression helicopter, Rotor-One.

Also featured will be:

§         Live music provided by the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific.

§         Car seat inspections and distribution of bicycle helmets from Safe Kids Alaska

§         A 911 simulator  provided by State Farm Insurance

§         LifeGuard helicopter and a fixed-wing air ambulance

§         Smokey the Bear, Sparky the Fire Dog and Good Neigh Bear

Please call 317-9929 for more information.

Early Morning Fire

1403 W. 40th

Contact Tom Kempton 317-7233

15 units from the Anchorage Fire Department responded to an early morning structure fire at 3:26 AM in an older Spenard Apartment building under rennovation.  Firefighters from the closest fire station, station 5 at Spenard and McCrae road, reported seeing the smoke column of a well involved fire when they left the station.  Units were on location within 2 minutes and began an aggressive interior attack and search for occupants.  Firefighters reported that there was fire in the basement and on the first floor and fire well established on the second floor when they first made entry to search.  The fire continued to build and as it neared "flash-over" crews were ordered out of the structure and extinguishment efforts continued from the outside of the apartment house. 

The heavy fire involvement was attributed to the lack of any sheetrock on the walls or ceilings of the strucuture that reportedly was unoccupied and undergoing remodel.   The building appears to be a total loss with unstable floors and walls.  Three firefighters received minor injuries during the initial stages of the search of the building. Two firefighters received minor burns from boiling water on the floors during interior attack into the basement to search for victims and one firefighter receives a minor laceration to his leg when broken glass from a window he was breaking for ventilation cut through his turnout pants.

Firefighters were on location until about 10 am this morning.  The investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is continuing.

Anchorage Fire Department is proud to host the first Resuscitation Conference for the Alaskan medical community.

Dr Thomas Aufderheide, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of Research Services, Medical College of Wisconsin and Dr. Michael Copass, Medical Director, King County Medic One of Seattle, Washington will be presenting.

Nationally known speakers are here for the two day conference that starts June 1^st.

Other speakers include:

Dr. Nadine Levick, MPH

Howard Cross, President of Howard Cross and Assoc.

Dr. Michael Levy, FACEP, Medical Director AFD

Don Lundy, NREMT-P, EMS Director, Charleston, SC

Mary Newman, President of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation

Dr. Robert O’Conner, MPH, FACEP, Vice Chair of the AHA National ECC Committee

Dr. Thomas Scalea, MD FACS, FCCM, Physician in Chief, R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Maryland

Soren Threadgill, MICP, Assistant Chief, AFD

Contact: Tom Kempton 317-7233 or Jim Foster 764-3333