Anchorage Fire Department

Press Release

3-22-2007

Contact Tom Kempton 907-317-7233

Shortly before 4 AM this morning units of the Anchorage Fire Department were called to a fire in the Church of Latter Day Saints off of Brayton Drive between De Armoun and Huffman roads in South Anchorage. At 8:30 AM this morning units are still pouring water to the persistant fire in the roof of this large church facility.

The fire department was alerted to the fire by a 911 caller who smelled smoke and notice flames from the roof of the church. The fire was also visable to responding units from the Seward Highway.  Initial reports from the first firefighters on location reported that there was no smoke or fire noticable inside the structure but that there was fire through the roof.  Firefighters set up three aerial ladders and poured water into the roof area from above. Attempts to breach a wall on the South end of the strucutre to reach the fire in the roof and attic areas was successful but the fire remained isolated in the roof area itself.  Firefighters had to pull individual firefighters from the roof and to fight the fire with master streams feom aerial apparatus. At this time the fire is still burning in the roof structure and crews are being rotated out to bring fresh personnel and equipment to the scene.

Firefighters are being assisted by the American Red Cross and workers from Street Maintenence which brought fuel to fire apparatus on location.