12 units from the Anchorage Fire Department responded to a structure fire Tuesday evening around 6:40 PM. In route to the fire, crews observed a large column of black smoke rising from the area of East 15th Terrace and 15th Avenue.

The size of the building, the nearness of another apartment building and the amount of smoke and fire contributed to the decision of calling a 2nd alarm and request for additional fire fighting equipment and personnel.

The crews had the fire under control within 20 minutes and fire damage was confined to the upper two floors of the 6 plex. A neighboring building sustained heat damage to the exterior siding.

First arriving fire crews pulled hand lines and verified that no one needed rescue, while Engine 3 from Airport Heights set up the water supply and Rescue 4 from the Tudor fire station put water on the neighboring building to keep it from igniting. Fire crews worked late into the evening extinguishing hot spots and overhauling the building. In all, 10 people were assisted by the Red Cross. One cat is still missing and one tenant was evaluated for a minor injury on site.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and a damage amount is not yet available.