By Jasz Garrett
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – On Feb. 1 at approximately 5:23 p.m., Capital City Fire Rescue responded to an auto shop fire at the 4700 block of North Douglas Highway. Personnel were on scene for approximately 4 hours. A fire origin and cause investigation was conducted and the area of origin is identified as the second floor mezzanine. The actual cause for this fire is still under investigation between the fire marshal and the building insurance company. There were no injuries reported and damages is estimated at over $750,000 at this time.
Following the auto shop fire on Feb. 1, at approximately 9:21 p.m., Capital City Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire in the Switzer Mobile Home Park. The single-wide mobile home was occupied at the time of the fire and the occupant safely evacuated before fire personnel arriving. No injuries were reported and damage is estimated at approximately $50,000. A fire origin and cause investigation was conducted and the fire started in the crawlspace underneath the structure. It is believed that the heat source is electrical as the occupant stated the breaker panel tripped a few times before the fire starting.
After resetting the breaker, there was smoke seen coming up from floor vents, and active fire was seen in the crawlspace by fire personnel. There was extensive remodeling work being done to the interior of the structure.
On Thursday, at approximately 6:53 a.m., Capital City Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire in a 6-plex at the 8600 block of Hayes Way in the Mendenhall Valley. A fire origin and cause investigation was conducted and the fire started in the crawlspace of the structure and traveled vertically through a pipe chase to the first and second-floor units. The fire extended into the attic space burned roof trusses and extended into the cellulose insulation. There were working smoke alarms and everyone safely evacuated the building before fire personnel arrived.
The actual cause of the Hayes Way fire is still under investigation. Damage is estimated at approximately $175,000. The Red Cross was contacted.
“The big thing that we really want to stress to folks is make sure you have working smoke detectors and two ways out of your residence,” CCFR Chief Rich Etheridge said. “In the wintertime, back exit doors get locked off at times so please make sure those porches are cleared off to where you can open the doors if there’s some kind of an emergency if you need to exit your home quickly.”
Capital City Fire Rescue wants to thank residents for their patience at each of these fire responses which caused significant traffic delays. Ensuring fire personnel safety is crucial and we will always do our best to open up traffic as soon as safely possible.
