Car Fire Damages Building

Monday evening at 8:20 p.m. 11 units from the Anchorage Fire Department were dispatched to a business near 305 W. Dimond Blvd. for a reported vehicle fire, spreading to the building.  The building was later confirmed to be the Nova Property Management Building located at 8340 Rainy Place.  Initial calls received by AFD Dispatchers indicated only the vehicle was on fire, but subsequent callers reported the vehicle was against the building and the fire had ignited the exterior of the structure.

Engine 4, temporarily assigned to Fire Station 12 at Homer and 80^th while the MacInnes Fire Station is re-constructed, was the first unit on location within four minutes.  They confirmed the exterior of the building was ablaze and initiated a quick attack.  Additional arriving units assisted with water supply, ventilation and checked for fire extension into the structure.  The fire was brought under control in just over 15 minutes, and damage was contained to the back wall and soffit area at the rear of the building.  Damages were estimated at $15,000.  No fire ground or civilian injuries were reported and no assistance was needed from the Red Cross.

The fire originated from an older model Ford Bronco II, although it’s unknown what caused the vehicle to ignite.  Fire Officials interviewed the car owner who mentioned having just purchased the vehicle recently.  Upon parking at the rear of the building the vehicle’s standard transmission was left in gear, and the parking brake was not set.  For unknown reasons the vehicle lurched forward making contact with the structure.  The fire either began before or after hitting the building, making it unclear if the fire caused the vehicle to lurch forward or the impact with the building caused the vehicle to catch fire.