CCFR on scene on Fritz Cove Road fire

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Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 7:00 AM

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Photo provided by CCFR

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - CCFR responded to a fire toward the end of Fritz Cove Road at 2:31 AM.

Updated: 12:37 PM 6/6/2023

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at approximately 2:31 AM, Capital City Fire Rescue responded to the 1100 block of Fritz Cove Road for a residential structure fire. While responding, dispatch advised there were potentially two occupants trapped inside.

Just prior to the fire personnel arriving, the downstairs tenant was able to evacuate the structure, contact the owner on the second floor, and used a nearby ladder to rescue the owner from the second-floor exterior deck. There were no injuries reported from either occupant.

Upon arrival, fire personnel found a two-story home with heavy fire and smoke from the roof. The fire was well-involved in the attic space and affected the entire space upon arrival. Due to interior construction, the ceiling was wooden tongue and groove which significantly slowed a timely access to the attic before being too large of a fire to control from underneath or even the exterior. The aerial ladder was used and was able to knock down the fire from an elevated platform which was much safer and more effective for fire personnel. There was one team of firefighters that were actively working inside the structure when a portion of the roof and ceiling collapsed. All firefighters were able to evacuate, and no injuries have been reported.

A fire origin and cause investigation began immediately after suppression activity and revealed that the owner had discarded an ashtray into a plastic waste can. The ash still had active embers in it and began to smoke inside of the waste can. The owner removed the waste can to the first-floor front entrance where it was able to ignite the waste can and travel vertically to the wooden siding and continue to travel to the second-floor roof eave which is where it extended into the attic space.

The fire is determined to be unintentional in nature due to discarded smoking materials. The home was insured; however, the tenant did not have renters’ insurance. The home is declared a total loss. The American Red Cross was contacted to help the occupants. CCFR wants to thank the residents in the area for their patience while apparatus blocked the roadway for approximately 4 hours.

Originally posted at 7:03 AM 6/6/2023

At 2:00 AM, CCFR responded to a call of a reported structure fire at 1090 Frtiz Cove Road.

CCFR Fire Chief Rich Etheridge contacted News of The North with more details.

"Capital City Fire Rescue responded to 1090 Fritz Cove road for a reported structure fire and one occupant trapped on their back deck," Etheridge said. "On arrival, crews found heavy fire in the attic space and on the back deck area. The exterior fire was quickly extinguished. However, crews struggled to extinguish the attic fire due to the heavy tongue and groove construction of the ceiling. The occupant of the house was rescued off the deck and crews began working on the attic fire. As of 6:30 this morning, crews are still on the scene putting out hotspots. There were no reported injuries. The structure is most likely a total loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time."

News of The North will provide updates when they become available

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