Business destroyed

A devastating fire at the Husky Manufacturing Company workshop on Dec. 13 consumed a lifetime of tools and equipment valued at more than $150,000.

It burned hot enough to melt aluminum into silver puddles and reduce newly completed heavy-duty aluminum freight sleds to 2 inches of twisted rubble strewn across the floor of the shop. While celebrating his 27th wedding anniversary 110 miles away in Talkeetna, owner Fritz Pleier and his wife received a frantic call from his daughter reporting that his shop was engulfed in flames and the fire department was on the way.

Pleier returned to find six responding fire trucks from four fire departments at his driveway. The shop, a wooden framed structure with steel siding, burned to the ground. The collapsed structure was filled with distorted skeletons of specialty equipment. Custom tools built for the company’s products and irreplaceable patterns were lost. A recently purchased car belonging to their son is now just a heap of metal. The ruined frame of a 4- wheeler and plow are inside. Everything that could burn or melt has. Ice blankets the charred remains of 14 years of work. The clean up appeared overwhelming, but had to be done. Thanks to family and friends donating time and equipment, the concrete floor is now cleared and ready for rebuilding.

HMC would like to thank all the firemen who responded to this fire, all the valley residents who assisted with the clean up and all those who have kept the family in prayer. The shop, his livelihood, was uninsured.

If you would like to make a donation for the rebuilding of Husky Manufacturing Co. you may do so by direct deposit to Wells Fargo account No. 2782867143, routing No. 125200057. Visitors other than Wells Fargo/ Wachovia customers use same account number with wire No.121000248.

Tool and equipment donations can be made by contacting Fritz.

Check the Web at huskyfreighters.com for a current list of needed items, or contactt huskyfreighters@gci.net.

Sharon Pleier

Wasilla