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Firefighters continued at presstime to mop up a major fire that set the top of Gastineau Apartments ablaze late Monday in downtown Juneau.
It was at first feared the neighboring Elks Lodge building might also be lost. That building showed no signs of outward damage at 7:30 p.m.
Earlier in the evening, at 6 p.m., the apartment building located at 127 South Franklin Street was invisible behind a grey wall of smoke.
The apartment building had been evacuated 45 minutes earlier and residents were asked to disperse due to the hazard of smoke inhalation. At 6:15 p.m. a Juneau police officer told an assembled group of onlookers that all residents had gotten out of the building.
Two fire department ladder trucks were parked on Franklin Street and thick yellow fire hoses lay serpentine between the sidewalks. Onlookers watched from the sidewalks and corners of Second Street, Franklin and Gold Street. Many covered their noses and mouths as they talked on cell phones or shot pictures and videos.
Gold Street was blocked off with tape at First Street with a fire truck and crew working within.
From Second Street, flames could be seen above the roof and through a window of the apartment building. Smoke rose above the fire and across the roof of the Baranof Hotel. Smoke also streamed down the streets in downtown Juneau. With the winds out of the south, the smell of smoke could be detected as far away as Aurora Harbor.
John Farris, from Austin Texas, was staying at the Baranof Hotel in a middle floor. He said he smelled smoke sometime after 5 p.m. At first he thought it was someone burning something outside so he stuck a wet towel under his door. About a half hour later he heard alarms “and door slamming shut,” Farris said. At this point he evacuated the hotel and moved back to Second Street to watch.
Courtney Wilkins and Chris McFadyen live above Sprazzo Italian restaurant across the street from Gastineau Apartments. Wilkins said she was concerned to get home to her dog, Roxy, before her home smoke alarms went off.
At approximately 6:20 p.m. the power went out downtown. Visibility was very low and people were taking care getting around. Power was restored downtown shortly after 9 p.m. to all buildings except those adjacent to the fire scene.
Bartlett Regional Hospital spokesman Jim Strader did not have specific details about injuries from the fire.
“I left at 8:15 (p.m.). At that time ED told me there were only handful of patients with minor injuries. No further info was available on exact number or specific conditions. I’ve had no further updates and do not expect more until tomorrow,” Strader wrote in a text message.
Guy Hayes of the Alaska Army National Guard said five guardsmen were deployed to secure the perimeter evacuated by emergency officials.
There is no report yet as to the cause of the blaze.
Centennial Hall has been set up as a shelter for hotel guests and displaced residents.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (47)
Add commentBe safe firefighters.
Reminder of the value of our first responders...
Well said!
These guys (and gals) rock.
Gastineau Apts fire
I hope and pray all tenants are safe and our first responders are all safe as well.
Smoke downtown
I was by the Wildflower Court downtown, and the smoke is really disturbing, people are covering their nose and mouth walking by to avoid the fumes.
Be safe everyone!
This is awful! I hope everyone and their pets will be safe! Thank you first responders and be safe as well! What can people do to help the tenants that are now without a place to live?
Well,
I guess if there is a bright spot to be found in the Aspen fire, It should have served as a real good tune up for the main event.
*
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Firefighter Injured.
He is being transported with head injury, according to the scanner.
Oh Noooo
So sorry to hear about the fire fighter. While I was downtown I was thinking about them, I was a few blocks away and the smoke was so bad I had to leave the area. I was thinking, my oh my, what those firefighters are dealing with. What brave souls. I did a fire drill aboard a ship with smoke so thick you couldn't see anything, it was so thick there was no daylight. I froze solid, I couldn't move, panic, fear, didn't know which way was the safe way to go.
Baranof
I work next door at the Baranof hotel. All of my coworkers are safe and the building has been cleared. The amount of smoke downtown is unreal, I hate to use this comparison, but it reminded me of 9/11. Buildings can be replaced, but low income and disabled people live in the Gastineau. It is they I worry about. I hope everyone made it out. The people living there are our neighbors, our friends, our family. This is a tragedy for all of Juneau.
loridtabbycat...
you said you are "by the Wildflower Court downtown"?? Wildflower Court is up by the hospital. Is there another place downtown called the Wildflower Court??
Homeless
I'm so sorry for all who have lost their homes as if it wasn't hard enough to find a home in this town that fidnt cost an arm & leg. I pray for them and the injuried
how
how awful
bugs
I heard it started when someone tried to heat treat their unit because of bed bugs...
anyone hear this too?
hope no one
hope no one was hurt!
I
I was comparing the smoke downtown to 9/11, not the disaster. I wasn't in lower Manhattan on 9/11, so I can only imagine the horror they faced.
I meant no hyperbole, or disrespect. If my words caused anyone pain, please forgive me. I am just close to this disaster and am struggling to articulate my feelings.
I thought the Wildflower was next to the State Bldg
I guess that's not the right name of the elderly housing on Willoughby. I was right next door to Bullwinkles downtown. I mean my lungs don't feel so great, and I was only down there for about 45minutes, inside an office building!
Michaelh2001
You don't have anything to apologize for or to explain. No one else read any disrespect into your comment. Some people will always see insult, no manner where they look. Don't worry about it.
Kudo's to all the first responders! Thoughts and prayers to all those who are affected by this tragedy.
loridtabbycat...
oh, the building you're referring to is called Fireweed Place. Wow, the smoke is all the way down that direction?? Holy Cow!! I just viewed the video and it's horrific. I pray everyone and all their pets get out safely and that all first responders make it back to their families. So very, very sad.
Seeking a freind for the end of the world
Does anyone wanna be my fire buddy?
Thanks ForReal!
Yup, I was inside an office located across the street from the Fireweed for 45 minutes, and my lungs feel heavy. Toxic fumes!
Helping hands are needed
Please all I would ask for prayers together to go out to all the displaced elderly and handicap residents of downtown as well as to the fallen fire fighter.
We all need to remind ourselves now more than ever of our blessings great and small. With that in mind I would also ask that we as Juneauites stand together to volunteer to help those folks in ANY way great or small,with blankets,clothing,food,shelter etc.
We are a great community and together there in nothing we can not accomplish to ease suffering and restore faith in the goodness of one another.
Smoke
Smoke is getting really bad downtown. With the power being out and the smoke, we left the mendenhall apartments. It sure looked like the building behind the gastineau apartments was in danger if not already on fire. A lot of flames were on that side of the building.
@Preciousfive
No not funny in the least. Experience has taught that the very best training is the real thing. The Aspen fire was unfortunate but nobody died. As luck would have it, it was timely, and should have served quite well as a major training event for the firefighters who had to work in a far larger, infinitely more complex and far more dangerous event tonight.
BTW: there is an old saying about every ounce of sweat spent in training saves a gallon of blood in battle….. It has been proven true throughout history.
In the 80s, while a member of
In the 80s, while a member of the Juneau Fire Department, we trained many times on this building, knowing that someday a major fire would occur. So sorry to hear that our fears came true.
Donation location
Juneau Empire,
Please let us know when and where donations can be made. Prayers for all those affected by this horrible tragedy.
Holy Sh!#
Look at that pic they just posted!
one more
As a retired firefighter I hate a to say this but they come in 3's so please everyone be safe and recheck that things are shut off when heading out for the day
Responsibility
This is the kind of event that reminds us when thinking about fire safety it's not just our own home and family that are at stake. We are interconnected in this community (and all communities.) When someone makes a mistake or ignores fire safety, they risk their neighbors lives and those of the people who are tasked with fighting the fire.
The scene over downtown is surreal. It's reminiscent of the fire in the hardware building about 7 years ago. Let's hope the building is replaced with one that includes a sprinkler system.
I sure hope the report of no serious injuries to residents is true and that the injured fireman fully and quickly recovers.
@AH HA
Well, I am glad you explained your position and I apologize that I misunderstood. It was perhaps, your user name, that caused me to think you were trying to be funny. As a mother of four sons who have all been firefighters, one who still is... I am very sensitive and aware of the dangers they face. Once again, I apologize.