Big Lake-Meadow Lakes District Fire Chief Bill Gamble said the fire, which was outside the Big Lake-Meadow Lakes Fire Service Area, was first reported at 3:18 p.m. by a neighbor who saw flames coming from the back of the house.
Crews from Big Lake, Meadow Lakes and the Department of Forestry responded to the fire, but found a difficult situation in crossing the water to get to the home, Gamble said.
 Courtesy photo/Big Lake-Meadow Lake Fire District Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze Monday afternoon that burned a Burnt Point home to the ground. |
Gamble said the home, which was a total loss, was a very large, wood structure that served as a second home to the Kincaid family. No one was at the home at the time and it wasn’t clear Monday evening whether the Kincaids are from Alaska.
“A really, really beautiful house,” Gamble said of the structure.
Gamble said William Kincaid and his family were in Valdez at the time of the fire and were on their way back to Burnt Point Monday afternoon after officials notified them of the fire.
At 7 p.m., the fire was still smoldering and officials were on monitor status making sure flames didn’t spread to neighboring trees or homes, Gamble said. The fire occurred outside the fire service area; the Department of Forestry will take over the investigation.
An initial value of the home wasn’t available Monday evening and as of press time, Forestry crews were still on scene watching for flare-ups and investigating the fire’s origin.
Visit the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman online at www.frontiersman.com for updates on this story as more information becomes available.
Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiers- man.com or 352-2252.
Comments
4 comment(s)jp wrote on Aug 7, 2008 6:31 AM:
anyway , seems like 3 miles would fall inside the fire service area.
I know where burnt point is, and how difficult it is to get there, my concern was that there would be no investigation, not to the effort of the fire dept. they do a great job.
i'm sure these peoples insurance company will try to worm their way out of paying on this, due to "no investigation" "
cmh wrote on Aug 6, 2008 10:54 PM:
And despite the fire being outside the service area, the Big Lake Fire Department chiefs still made every effort to ford a river to make sure there were no residents still inside. Did you note in the article where it said there was no road access? I know because I heard the call. Fire departments from Willow to Meadow Lakes were ready with responders to aid. "
mabe wrote on Aug 6, 2008 12:54 PM:
To JP: If you live outside a fire service area, you don's pay taxes to the borough for service. It is important that people educate themselves as to where those fire service area lines lay, as it may be you are your own best defense.
~M "
jp wrote on Aug 6, 2008 6:39 AM:
could someone please tell me what the heck our taxes are going towards? or can i get a refund?
I think it's time the people of the valley start questioning the borough officials, and make a stand!
remember, we are paying their salaries, we should know what we're paying for! "