Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a garage fire on El Camino Street on the evening of Monday, Nov. 13. CCFR issued a reminder for people to be proactive in protecting their homes after four fires were reported over the course of five days. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a garage fire on El Camino Street on the evening of Monday, Nov. 13. CCFR issued a reminder for people to be proactive in protecting their homes after four fires were reported over the course of five days. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Spate of fires prompts CCFR to issue reminder about fire safety

Fires have killed 19 people in Alaska so far this year, none in Juneau.

Capital City Fire/Rescue is urging the public to take safety precautions in the wake of four fires in Juneau in five days, including checking smoke alarms and portable fire extinguishers, and having heating equipment inspected and serviced.

The missive was issued Tuesday afternoon following structure fires at a residence on Thunder Street on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Switzer Village trailer park on Friday, Nov. 10, and on Monday, Nov. 13, on El Camino Street. CCFR also responded to a boat fire on Duran Street on Nov. 13, which was very close to a residence.

People passing by two of those incidents saw something amiss and stopped to alert the households, according to social media posts.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

No injuries were reported in the local incidents. There have been 18 fire fatalities in Alaska this year, according to the civilian fire casualties information page on the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

Twelve of those were in Anchorage, said Alex Boyd, assistant fire chief of the Anchorage Fire Department. He said the number has since climbed to 13 in his city, due to another fire death on Nov. 9, which hadn’t been added yet to the page. That was a person staying in a tent in which the heating source set it ablaze, he said.

As with CCFR, Boyd strongly encouraged everyone to be proactive by checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. That should happen at least annually, but getting in the habit of switching batteries when we change clocks is ideal.

People shouldn’t overlook CO detectors, Boyd said. “We don’t see as many (deaths) due to CO, but they are insidious and when it happens it tends to be multiple people.”

There were 23 fire deaths in 2022, according to DPS’ online fire casualties information page. More than half of fire casualties this year had evidence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Many fires begin with temporary heating sources and fireplaces. “Make sure adequate distances are kept from them, 24-36 inches is usually pretty good,” said Boyd, adding that checking the manufacturer recommendations is best.

Boyd said the website of the U.S. Fire Administration (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires) has useful information, including things to look out for and other ways to protect your home.

CCFR has a chimney cleaning brush loan-out program, which can be checked out at the fire station.

The CCFR release, posted on its Facebook page, included more details about the recent Juneau fires:

• CCFR was dispatched to the 8000 block of Thunder Street for a residential structure fire on Nov. 8 at about 2:22 a.m. The occupants safely evacuated the structure and used a portable fire extinguisher prior to fire personnel arriving. A fire origin and cause investigation revealed that the fire started in the upstairs bedroom with the electric baseboard heating unit. No injuries were reported and damage is estimated at approximately $500.

• CCFR responded to Switzer Village trailer park for a residential structure fire on Nov. 10 at about 4:46 p.m. There was electrical work being conducted prior to the fire being discovered. Fire investigators determined the fire started underneath the trailer unit. The heat source was electrical heat tape that was energized prior to the fire occurring. The electrical contractor used a portable fire extinguisher to try to control the fire until fire personnel arrived. There were no injuries reported and damage is estimated at approximately $200. The American Red Cross was asked to aid the occupants.

• CCFR responded to the 8900 block of Duran Street for a report of a boat on fire next to a residence on Nov. 13 at about 9:42 a.m. Fire personnel saw visible flames and smoke emanating from a 27-foot fiberglass boat parked in the yard next to a single-family residence. The fire was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries reported. Fire investigators concluded it started in the cabin area of the boat. The heat source was a portable propane space heater and damage is estimated at about $12,000.

• CCFR responded to the 3700 block of El Camino Street on Nov. 13 at about 8:09 p.m. for a reported residential structure fire in a garage. Fire personnel discovered a two-vehicle detached garage fully inflamed and quickly extinguished the blaze. The investigation revealed that the fire started in the garage near a workbench, but the actual cause hasn’t been determined. Occupants in the home next to the garage attempted to use a garden hose to put out the fire, but it was too large to be effective.

• Contact Meredith Jordan at meredith.jordan@juneauempire.com or (907) 615-3190.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Dec. 29

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A trailer in the Sprucewood Park mobile home neighborhood burns on Monday night. Fire officials said the trailer apparently has long been unoccupied. (Photo by Gerald Mayeda)
Fire engulfs unoccupied trailer in the Mendenhall Valley

Wind spreads flames quickly, but neighboring homes escape damage.

The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Coast Guard: ‘It will be several years before families arrive in Juneau’ with icebreaker

Initial crew of 60 expected to be assigned to Storis next summer, but major ship and port upgrades await.

A new development and policy blueprint for downtown Juneau is scheduled to be considered Monday by the Juneau Assembly. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Opening lots of land around Juneau to more development on Assembly’s agenda Monday

More housing is major goal of new downtown blueprint, rezoning proposals in North Douglas and Auke Bay.

Juneau residents line up in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium on Friday to ask questions and protest the HESCO flood barriers that are potentially being installed this summer. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Frustrated residents say concerns about short-term flood barrier plan aren’t getting sufficient answers

Some homeowners say they’d rather buy insurance than pay $6,300 for barriers, then focus on long-term fix.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Teen arrested for New Year’s DUI after collision with parked vehicle that injured three juveniles

Lance Martell, 19, also arrested on assault and endangerment charges after wreck at end of Thane Road.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A firefighter tries to contain a flareup in a house fire on Aspen Avenue on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
One person killed, one hospitalized in early-morning house fire in Mendenhall Valley

One other person escapes with minor injuries, dog killed; home considered a total loss.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Juneau Empire relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in