FROM: Ernie Misewicz, Assistant Chief DATE: March 6, 2006
For Immediate Release: North Pole, Alaska.
On Saturday March 4, 2006 a major fire destroyed a combined shop and storage building at the K & K Recycling facility located at Spur Ct and Old Richardson Hwy., at 8.5 Mile. The fire was reported to the North Star Volunteer Fire Department at about 11: 27 AM. As fire units departed their stations about 4 miles away a large cloud of black smoke was seen in the sky over the area. When fire units arrived on scene 7 minutes later they found a 60’ x 100’ wood frame shop building heavily involved in fire, there were flames through the roof and the roof had already collapsed.
Fire fighters used a defensive attack procedure, deploying hose lines to protect nearby buildings from the radiant heat of the fire. Access to the front of the building was hampered by live GVEA electrical service wires to the building. Fire was brought under control by 12:15 PM; however Firefighters were on scene until about 4:30 PM extinguishing hot spots and monitoring the fire scene. A 966 loader from a nearby construction company, Mid-State Equipment, and a small skip loader on site were used to move storage and debris away from the fire building to aid Firefighters with access to and suppression of the fire.
26 volunteer fire fighters from North Star VFD responded along with mutual aid fire units and 9 fire fighters from the Fairbanks Fire Department, North Pole Fire Department, and Ft. Wainwright Fire & Rescue Department. Fire department tenders were used to move 24,000 gallons of water to help extinguish the fire.
The fire is believed to have started in the area of a “barrel” type stove in the south east corner of the shop. There are indications the fire may have been burning for as much as 50 minutes before it was discovered and reported to 911. No one was injured at this fire and the total loss is estimated at approximately $1.2 million dollars.
The property is owned by Bernie Karl of K& K Recycling. Photos available at www.northstarfire.org