Big Lake man hospitalized after fire destroys home

BIG LAKE — One man was hospitalized and a Big Lake home destroyed following an early Tuesday fire.

According to West Lakes Fire Chief John Fairchild, the department received a call at 2:26 a.m. to respond to a structure fire on Huskie Drive.

“It was about 90 percent involved when we got there,” Fairchild said. “The structure was a (house) trailer with additions.”

Fairchild said about two dozen West Lakes, Central Mat-Su and Houston firefighters responded to the scene along with EMS personnel. The chief said one person was inside the structure at the time and was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. He had not confirmed whether or not the person was the homeowner.

Social media posts didn’t reveal a name but said the man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of third-degree burns. Social media posts also stated there were several pets inside at the time of the fire and that one had made it out safely.

Contacted Tuesday morning, Fairchild said it was too early in the investigation to determine the cause of the blaze although it appears unsuspicious in nature. The chief said the last firefighters cleared the scene around 7 a.m.