A small fire in a dumpster at the Mountain View Apartments Senior Center prompted firefighters to respond to the adult day care service at about 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning, but a sprinkler system extinguished the flames before they arrived.
“They worked as they’re supposed to,” said Capital City Fire/Rescue Firefighter John Krebsbach, the shift captain at the downtown station at the time. “That’s why they’re there.”
Krebsbach said there were no injuries and only minor water damage to the some of the floors of the building, 895 W. 12th St.
He speculated one of the residents probably dumped an ashtray with hot embers down the garbage chute, eventually catching fire.
The chutes dump trash into the dumpster, located inside a locked room on the ground level. Residents don’t have access to the dumpster room, and there’s a garbage chute on each floor.
Light smoke had traveled up to the second and third floors, and firefighters ventilated the building and ensured the fire was extinguished before returning to service.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (1)
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Thank you CCFR for your quick response and professionalism. Smoke on the 3rd floor might be considered as light to a firefighter but to me it was really hard to breathe as my apartment is located next to the trash room where the trash chute is on the 3rd floor.
I am disabled and trying to get down the stairs from the 3rd floor to the safety of the first floor was difficult and slow. I want to apologize to the firefighter that was on my floor for not being able to get down as quickly as he needed me to but I did the best I could and am grateful for your concern and I do understand the need for speed in this kind of situation.
Juneau is blessed to have such competent men and women who serve this community.
Again thank you for all you do. Stay safe.