Christmas fire leaves Knik man homeless

Jan. 5. 2007

By Michael Rovito

Frontiersman

KNIK - Some residents of this tiny community are teaming up to help their neighbor after an early morning Christmas blaze burned his house to the ground.

Pete Hutton, who lives at Mile 19.5 Knik-Goose Bay Road, escaped with nothing but rags on his body Dec. 25, as his home was engulfed in a raging inferno.

The only thing left of the structure is the foundation.

Hutton said he woke up Christmas morning and quickly realized his entire house was full of thick, black smoke. It only took him a second to react.

&#8220I said to myself, ‘I'm on fire, I've got to get out of bed,'” Hutton said.

Running toward his steps, Hutton said he doesn't know if he passed out or tripped, but somehow he ended up falling down the flight of stairs.

The 54-year-old sustained bruising to much of his body because of the fall.

The fire made the house so hot that by touching a door handle, Hutton received a burn on his hand that instantly swelled up.

&#8220The paramedics said I should stop by the hospital,” Hutton said, adding that fire and medical help seemed to arrive rather quickly.

He heeded their advice, and after a few X-rays, doctors told him he was not in immediate danger.

As a testament to just how intense the fire was, Hutton described banging on his neighbor's door for help. He said the neighbor who answered told her husband a black man was at the door.

&#8220I said, ‘No it's Pete, my house is burning down,'” Hutton said.

The Vietnam-era veteran is now homeless, but that's where his neighbors and the generosity of others come in.

Hutton's neighbor, Flo Pitcher, who said Hutton is one of the nicest men she's ever met, is trying to do everything she can to help him recover after the blaze.

&#8220It's so sad it happened on Christmas morning,” Pitcher said.

Hutton is staying with Pitcher until he can arrange other accommodations.

For now, donated items from money to clothes are being accepted at Tug Bar and Liquor at Goose Bay Inn.

Steve Ramsey, a bartender at the Tug Bar, said patrons may donate anything Hutton could use, adding that a recent get-together yielded a plethora of clothes and other items.

Hutton also received $1,600 from customers at the Tug Bar, he said.

And, according to Ramsey, bar-goers may continue to donate items to Hutton through the bar. Simply drop them off at Tugs and the business will make sure they get to Hutton.

Even after all he's been through, Hutton seemed optimistic Tuesday. Although he didn't have fire insurance, he plans to eventually rebuild his home on top of the very foundation that survived the fire. He's looking toward a bright future.

&#8220You never give up,” he said. &#8220You just keep on keeping on.”

Contact Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@frontiersman.com.