Authorities say house fire is under investigation

MEADOW LAKES — A house fire on Rainbow Drive about 2:30 p.m., Wednesday left two people homeless and sparked investigation from state and federal agencies, authorities said.

Firefighters from the West Lakes Fire Department responded to the fire, and had extinguished it in about 15 minutes, according to West Lakes Battalion Chief Jimmy Keel. Radio reports indicate Alaska State Troopers warned responders a “substantial chemical hazard” was associated with the 60-foot by 30-foot structure. Later radio reports indicated that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was on-scene.

No one was in injured in the blaze, Keel said.

“There were no injuries to firefighters and nobody home at the time,” he said.

The fire is suspected to be arson, though officials aren’t revealing many details while the investigation is ongoing, according to fire marshal spokeswoman Elizabeth Ipsen.

ATF was not assisting with the fire portion of the investigation, Ipsen said.

Seattle-based ATF Public Information Officer Brian Bennett also confirmed ATF is assisting state officials with their investigation of the scene.

“I can confirm that ATF is assisting the Alaska Fire Marshalls Office with their investigation into a residential fire that occurred near Wasilla yesterday,” Bennett wrote in an email.

While the fire may not have spawned any physical injuries, Sheila Jette rented the property on Rainbow Drive and lived with her fiancé, Seth Moore. The structure survived, but almost all their belongings were destroyed in the fire, Jette said.

Authorities told her a passerby had noticed the house fire and called it in, she said.

“We’ve been living there for three years,” she said. “We lost my bedroom stuff, all my living room stuff.”

While many belongings perished, and Jette and Moore are left searching for a future residence beyond a three-day hotel stay provided by the Red Cross, some important things survived, including recorded hand- and footprints from Jette’s son, who died when she was eight months pregnant with him.

The family is working to set up a gofundme.com page to collect donations, food, and clothing. Jette said her family will take whatever help they can get.

“I’m most worried about anything that anyone can do to help,” she said. “We’ll take anything anybody can give, even if it’s just a prayer.”

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.