Structure Fire 6463 Thurman Street

6-8-08

Contact Tom Kempton 317-7233

11 units from the Anchorage Fire Department were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 12:50 AM Sunday.  The first arriving unit was from the Jewel lake Fire Station, Engine 7. 

The initial report had the home 60% involved in fire and flames through the roof area. Firefighters made an interior attack once they were able to search the entire structure to make sure that the occupants had safety escaped. The main seat of the fire was in the attic and overhead areas on the second floor of this single family home under remodel construction.

Firefighters were unable to gain access to the fire in the attic area and as the fire grew in intensity the decision to fight the fire defensively from outside the structure was made. The danger of the roof collapsing was evident as one firefighter was slightly injured when interior ceiling materials fell on him while they were trying to extinguish the fire from the interior. The firefighter was examined and did not require treatment at the scene.  

Eventually a aerial platform with a high intensity water stream was deployed to knock down the roof and attic fire and bring it under control. The aerial ladder was extended from the road below the house and beneath power and utility lines to affect the extinguishment of the fire.  It took more than an hour, 11 pieces of fire apparatus and more than 23 firefighters to bring this fire under control.

Firefighters estimate the damage to the structure at more than $200,000 and at least $100,000 to the contents.