NORTH STAR FIRE NEWS

PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM:           Tim Biggane, Battalion Chief              DATE: March 6, 2006

For Immediate Release:            North Pole, Alaska.

Monday morning, March 6, 2006, at 7:57 AM, the North Star Volunteer Fire Department responded to a reported Garage fire at 3417 Baker Road, off of the Old Richardson Highway in Moose Creek.   Firefighters arrived on scene within 6 minutes and found a 30 by 30 foot two vehicle unattached garage with heavy smoke coming from the eaves on all sides.

Firefighters from North Star VFD made an aggressive interior attack and had the fire under control by 8:11 A.M., a little over 5 minutes after arrival. The fire was confined to the interior of the sheet rocked garage.  The homeowner reported starting up his wood stove at approx. 6:30 AM and went back inside his residence. They noticed smoke coming from the gable end vent of the roof and immediately called 911, summoning the fire department.

A total of 5 fire engines and over 20 firefighters responded from three fire departments, using less than 800 gallons of water to extinguish the fire. All occupants were reported to be out of the structure upon the fire department’s arrival.  The City of North Pole and Eielson Air Force Base Fire Departments provided mutual Aid assistance.

The structure interior finish and contents were damaged. The value of the building and contents are estimated at over $60,000, and damage is estimated at $15,000. Due to having live-in resident firefighters on duty at outlying stations Firefighters saved over $45,000 on this incident due to both an early alarm by the homeowner and by making an aggressive interior attack. Cause of the fire is believed to be combustible materials stored too close to the woodstove.

There were no injuries as a result of this fire and the owners have homeowners insurance.

 

 

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