At approx. 1038am, 10 units from the Anchorage Fire Department responded to the report of a dryer fire in the 2800 block of E 18^th Ave. The first unit arrived on location at 1042am and advised there was light smoke showing from a single family residence. The resident and cat were outside the structure and no one was injured. The fire was called under control at 1057am and appeared to have started in the wiring to the washing machine. Damage is estimated at $8000 to the structure and approx. $4000 to the contents.

The Anchorage Fire Department would like to remind residents to leave the structure if you see or smell smoke and call 911!

Fish Smoking Burns Homes

Anchorage Fire Department responded to two house fires on Sunday, August 24, 2008 which both resulted from residents smoking fish.

The first fire was reported just three minutes after 6:00 p.m. with a 911 caller reporting smoke coming from the roof of the home located at 3503 E 68^th Ave.  Eleven units were dispatched as additional information was received indicating the roof of the home was on fire.  All occupants had safely evacuated the residence.

Engine 4 from the Tudor/MacInnes arrived within four minutes and called a Working Fire.  Engine 4’s crew began a fast attack as additional arriving crews assisted with ventilation and securing utilities.  The fire had spread from a back deck of the home up the siding and into the roof.  The quick actions of fire crews knocked the blaze down and the fire was called under control within ten minutes, preventing the fire from extending into the living area of the dwelling.

Fire Officials determined the blaze was caused by a fish smoker being used on the wood deck, causing extensive damage to the deck, the exterior siding and roof trusses.  Damage is estimated at $50,000.  The family was home at the time the fire broke out, there were working smoke detectors in the home, although they didn’t activate as the fire was discovered before it breached the interior.  No injuries were reported and the family pets also were safely evacuated.  The family is spending the night with friends or family in the area and did not request Red Cross assistance.

The second fire was reported just after 8:00 p.m in the Jewel Lake area.  A neighbor at 7033 Terry St. noticed smoke coming up from the back of a single family ranch style home at 7042 Terry St.  The neighbor believed the home owner was not home and verified the fire was on the rear deck of the home and moving up the exterior wall.

Eleven units were dispatched and the first arriving Engine Company from Jewel Lake Station 7 within four minutes reported a minor fire to be handled by themselves and another Engine Company from the Spenard Station.  This fire also originated on the deck and was burning up the exterior siding, but had not yet reached the eves or attic area. The siding was peeled back and there was no fire extension inside the home. Engine’s 5 & 7 completed salvage work and the situation was mitigated within 15 minutes.

Fire Officials determined this fire resulted from burnt chip ash from a fish smoker that was disposed into a combustible container, on a wood deck, next to the house.  The smoldering ash burned through the container before spreading up the wall.  The homeowner was not home, and the early reporting by alert neighbors prevented significant damage to the home.  Damage to the rear deck and siding is estimated at $20,000.  Red Cross services were not needed as the home remains habitable.

 The fire department recognizes that Alaska residents take great pride and go to considerable efforts to smoke their catch.  However, many residents falsely assume their smokers are safe because they are constructed of metal or aluminum, and function at low heat.  Albeit these smokers should never be used on a combustible surface, such as wood decks, as they will slowly heat the wood area beneath the unit until it ignites. Lastly, when removing the burnt wood chips from the smoker always dispose of them into a non-combustible container such as a metal can or bucket – again on a non-combustible surface. ALWAYS place fish smokers on a stone, concrete or paved surface when in-use.

Thirteen Anchorage Fire Department units responded to a structure fire on Sanya Circle in East Anchorage last night at approximately 11:30 PM.  Fire fighters found a travel trailer and va ehicle fully involved in fire, both under the  carport. The travel trailer's propane tank was also on fire acting as a  blow torch shooting  flames onto the home and up into the carport.  The natural gas meter then burned through and the gas was ignited blowing heavy fire into the house and eves.  Fire fighters and Enstar personnel worked together to control and contain the natural gas feeding the fire. 

Residents at the damaged home stated that the fire started in the travel trailer, where one person was sleeping.  The occupant of the travel trailer said he had a candle burning and kicked it over while he was sleeping.  He awakend and heard "crackling".  He was able to escape the trailer and wake the occupant of the home who escaped safelty.  There were no smoke detectors in the travel trailer.

Both occupants were extremely lucky to escape this fire.  The front door of the home was blocked by the propane and natural gas fueled fire when fire fighters arrived.  It's estimated that there was at least $200,000. damage to the home and contents, however fire fighters were able to contain the fire and the damage was limited to the upper level of the two story home.  The carport, travel trailer and vehicle are a complete loss. 

Anchorage Fire Department reminds everyone, that smoke detectors are small investments that can pay off in huge dividends by helping you escape a fire situation by early notification.  Special smoke detectors can be purchased for camp trailers and motor homes.  Always, always have a working smoke detector where you sleep.  October is fast approaching so remember to change your detector batteries when you change your clocks!!

Residential Structure Fire

1726 Sanya Ci

Friday, August 22^nd @ 11:29 PM

At approximately 1129 pm on Friday, August 22^nd The Anchorage Fire Department Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from the resident at 1726 Sanya Circle reporting that her residence was on fire.  The Anchorage Fire Department dispatched 12 units to the fire.

Approximately four minutes later Engine 3 (from the Airport Heights fire station) arrived on scene and reported that there was smoke and flames visible coming from the single family residence.   Damage is estimated at approximately $150,000.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation. One firefighter was transported to hospital, treated and released.    

The American Red Cross responded to assist the owner with lodging needs.

California Wildfire Season

Tom Kempton Battalion Chief Anchorage Fire Department

907-317-7233

At 6 am the sky is beginning to lighten up in a very smoky fire camp in Orleans, California.  This is the part of California that Alaskans might find strangely familiar.  Mountainous, with the Klamath river and nearby tributaries where the salmon are beginning to run.

I am serving with an Alaskan Interagency fire team tasked with the management of three wildfires that have consumed over 120,000 acres. This is just one of fire complexes that have been burning in northern California since late June.

Members of the Anchorage Fire Department were here last month in a shadowing assignment with the California fire team that the AK team took over from on August 2nd. They were here learning lessons that hopefully we will not have to learn in Anchorage about wildfire.

One thing I have seen in some of the smaller communities that are threatened by these wildfires is that the community members have taken steps to protect themselves.  Alaskans would recognize this spirit of self reliance. Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) are very important is identifying the hazards and what steps that homeowners and neighbors can take to protect themselves.

People here realize that even with all the firefighters and aircraft and technology assigned to an incident this size it may not be enough to protect them if these fires wake up to the wind and begin to rage in what is just now beginning to come into the dry fire season.  They know that they still have month to go before the rains of winter will put these fires out.

The firefighters assigned here and the management team in charge understand that we are just containing and hoping to control a number of these fires that we cannot hope to fully extinguish.  The dry conditions will persist, teams will come and go on assignment and new fires will break out.

Homeowners who have joined with their neighbors and who have taken the steps involved in the CWPP process have at least done all that they can do to prepare for this dry fire season. 

If you would like more information about the Anchorage Fire Departments Community Wildfire Protection Planning efforts and what you can do in Anchorage to prepare now for our future fire seasons please contact Sue Rodman at 267-4902.

Anchorage Fire Department 

Press Release 8-7-08

Townhouse fire on Leighton Street

Contact Assistant Chief Bridget Bushue at 317-7239