Duplex Fire Injures One

Duplex Fire Injures One

At 0119 hours this morning, May 18^th, Anchorage Fire Department Communications Center answered a 911 call from a person trapped in a duplex located at 6140 Austin St.  Other occupants had reportedly already escaped and the callers egress was blocked by the quickly spreading fire.  Eleven units were initially dispatched and while enroute three additional resources were added because of unverified information.

Engine 4 from the Tudor/MacInnes station arrived on scene within five minutes of the initial call and reported one half of a single story duplex 60% involved.  A working fire was called and additional crews arrived within moments of Engine 4.  Fire crews were able to determine the trapped occupant had been rescued from a bedroom window by APD officers and a passerby.  Fire crews had to work quickly as the blaze was spreading to a nearby structure and threatening the adjoining unit.  Their efforts were successful in containing the fire to the originating unit, although some damage did occur to the adjoining unit’s roof, and some minor exterior damage occurred to the neighboring structure.  The fire was brought under control within 25 minutes.

One patient was transported to a local hospital to treat injuries possibly resulting from exposure to smoke.  It is believed this to be the same person who was rescued from the bedroom.  No fire ground injuries were reported and Red Cross was summoned to assist with two displaced adult occupants.  Occupants from the adjoining unit were not home during the fire and it’s unclear if they will require assistance or if their home remains habitable.  Two AFD fire investigators responded and later called for the AFD K-9 Jodi, on loan from the ATF, to assist with determining the fire origin and source.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation and damage estimates could exceed $150,000.