Emergency crews respond to south Anchorage fire

September 23, 2010|by Jason Lamb

Jason Lamb/KTUU-DT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Anchorage firefighters were called out to a fire at 8 a.m. Thursday morning in the Kandlewood Condos on Sentry Drive, off Lake Otis Parkway.

The first crews to arrive at the scene of the fire quickly issued a second alarm calling more emergency teams to the apartment complex. Firefighters from as far as Spenard and Mountain View responded to the call.

More than a dozen emergency vehicles, including a rarely used AFD mobile command unit, gathered at the site.

According to those at the scene, the fire started in a second-floor apartment and flames could be seen coming from a balcony.

“Heard the fire alarms going off so I got a hat, no socks -- feet are freezing,” said resident Doug Christine.

“They had a chainsaw, it had burned through the roof -- there are guys on the roof trying to make sure there’s no fire on the roof, and there's a couple guys inside,” said Bill Hinshaw, who woke up to the fire.

AFD spokesperson Sue Rodman said one person was transported from the scene to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Rodman said the initial condo and the unit above it were directly damaged by the fire, while adjacent units were also damaged.

Michelle Houlihan with the American Red Cross says so far they are helping two people with mental health services, food, clothing and shelter in response to the fire, but that they may expect more people to come forward because many were not at home when the fire broke out.

The Red Cross is opening a shelter at the Kincaid Recreation Center to house the families who live in the units affected by the fire, because even though those units are still livable there isn't any gas or electricity.

Fire officials say the blaze's cause is under investigation.

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