Boy saves brother as house burns

PALMER — Firefighters say they’ve settled on a cause for the fire that all but destroyed a home on Esther Drive near Palmer-Fishhook Road on Monday.

“We believe it was the (salmon) smoker that was on the front porch,” said Palmer Fire Chief John McNutt.

Fire crews were called to the home at around 5 p.m. Flames were quickly reported to be through the roof.

Palmer’s Director of Emergency Services Jon Owen said two boys were home at the time. One, Brandon Doss, 14, was outside playing with his friend Devin Johnson.

“They heard a crackling sound and they looked and saw fire on the porch, which is kind of on the side of the house, which is why they didn’t see it at first,” Owen said.

Johnson ran to his own home across the street to call 911. Doss’ brother, Zachery Doss, 12, was inside the home. Since the front door was blocked by flame, Brandon Doss knocked on a window and told his brother to get out through the back door. Neither brother was injured.

Asked how extensive the damage to the home was, Owen said an official determination will be left up to someone else.

“There’s still four walls standing,” he said, “but it’s in all likelihood a total loss.”

Just after the fire, two cats went missing. Owen said that one of them has since returned.

“So we’re assuming that one cat was lost in the fire,” he said. “The dog was outside.”

Owen said Palmer fire crews arrived and got mutual aide from the Central Mat-Su Fire Department. Firefighters entered the home to battle the blaze, fighting it aggressively rather than staying outside for a defensive attack.

Fire crews left at 10:40 p.m., Owen said, and ambulance crews at 10:51 p.m.

Though nobody was hurt in the fire, the ambulance did see some action treating a firefighter who stayed outside the home pulling hose in a support role.

“We had a firefighter who fainted and was transported to the hospital,” Owen said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.