Cabin burns, person found dead inside

WILLOW — When the flames were finally doused on a recreational cabin in Willow Easter morning, a body was found among the ashes.

According to a press release from Alaska State Troopers, the fire was reported at 8:30 a.m., at a home on Deshka Loop.

“The fire quickly destroyed (the) estimated 800-square-foot wood cabin. A body was recovered from inside the cabin at approximately 10 a.m.,” the press release states.

AST Spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said Monday afternoon that troopers hadn’t yet identified the body and therefore couldn’t release a name. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

“It was a couple that was spending the weekend at a cabin on Deshka landing,” Ipsen said. She said the cabin belonged to a friend of the couple. Ipsen said it had running water and electricity, but was made almost entirely of plywood.

“They were at the cabin overnight and the gentleman got up and went to the store and when he came back the cabin was on fire and he called 911,” Ipsen said.

The body inside is likely that of the woman he was vacationing with, but the state medical examiner’s office will make sure.

Willow Fire Chief Lance Barve said he couldn’t say much while troopers are still investigating.

He said the cabin was on pilings, raised off the ground. It was fully involved when his firefighters arrived.

“We fought it as a defensive fire from the beginning,” Barve said, meaning it was too dangerous for firefighters to attempt to enter the home as it burned.

Barve said that the man staying there was injured.

“He burned himself trying to get back into the structure and he wasn’t able to make access,” Barve said.

The neighborhood is actually a gated community, but someone made sure the gate was open to allow firefighters inside. The cabin wasn’t nearly as inaccessible as some in the area.

“There was a road right up to it, with a driveway,” Barve said.

Ipsen and Barve agreed that the cabin was a total loss.

“There wasn’t much left of the structure, it was pretty leveled,” Ipsen said.

In addition to Willow, firefighters from Houston and West Lakes showed up. Mat-Su Borough Deputy Director of Emergency Services Clint Vardeman said that the Central Mat-Su Fire Department also sent a truck.

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