FROM:           Jerry Hanson, Deputy Chief                            DATE: March 13, 2006

                        North Star Volunteer Fire Dept.

                        2358 Bradway Road

                        488-3400

SUBJECT:           STRUCTURE FIRE:  1497 Peggy Street

For Immediate Release:            North Pole, Alaska.

Monday morning, March 13, 2006, at 8:14 AM, the North Star Volunteer Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 1497 Peggy Street, off of the Old Richardson Highway. 

Firefighters arrived on scene within 7 minutes and found a 30 by 35 foot one-and-a-half story ‘A’ frame type residential house with heavy fire showing from the front windows on both floors and at the ridge peak of the roof on the left side.  Mutual aid assistance was requested from the North Pole, Fort Wainwright, and Fairbanks Fire Departments.

The front door was padlocked shut from the outside and firefighters forced entry into the house.  Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack however were pushed out when the second floor loft collapsed into the interior of the building.  Firefighters changed to a defensive attack, later re-entering the structure and had the fire under control by 9:32 A.M. 

A total of 3 fire engines and 20 firefighters responded from the North Star Volunteer Fire Dept., and three other fire departments responded mutual aid bringing three more engines and 15 more firefighters.  Approximately 20,000 gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire.

The structure’s interior was gutted, however a nearby two car garage was undamaged.  The value of the building and contents are estimated at approx. $75,000 and the building is insured by the property owner.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.  The building was not occupied at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries.