Fire in 24 Unit Apartment Complex Calls for 2nd Alarm Response

from Anchorage Fire Department

7-22-2007

Contact Tom Kempton 317-7233

Anchorage Firefighters were called for a fire in a 24 unit apartment building at the Club Apartments 5800 Lake Otis Boulevard shortly at 7:42 PM tonight. Arriving firefighters on Engine 4 called a fully involved working fire with flames extending from daylight basement units up to the third floor involving the front staircase.  Engine 4 crew knocked the fire down in the lower units and on the staircase as they made their way to the third floor to search for anyone trapped above the fire. Other arriving units advanced backup lines up the staircase and up another staircase into the other side of the apartment complex to stop extension of the fire up into the attic. 

All the occupants safety evacuated the strucure and there were no reported injuries. The majority of the fire damage was to the six units on the side of the structure facing Lake Otis.  The other side of the unit and the twelve apartments on the West end did receive some smoke damage but were spared from fire damage by the fast action of the firefighters in knocking down the fire and preventing it from extending into the attic and roof areas. After the fire was knocked down two cats were found dead. 

The fire was apparently started from a grease fire on the stove in one of the lower apartments. The tenants in that apartment attempted to put the fire out with a handheld fire extinguisher but that was not successful and the fire spread quickly to the kitchen. The fire then extended out the windows and involved the staircase and spread into apartments above.  

The American Red Cross was on location very quickly after the fire, meeting with the displaced tenants to provide assistance.  A monetary damage was not available tonight and it is unknow how many families will need Red Cross assistance.