Fire destroys Big Lake home

BIG LAKE -- A fire completely destroyed a 6,000-square-foot house Sunday as crews from across the Mat-Su fought the blaze for almost 12 hours, amid high winds and freezing temperatures.

Homeowner Paul Hampton and his son, John, were inside their Big Lake home sleeping early Sunday morning when Hampton awoke to the blare of smoke alarms.

"I couldn't see the flames right away, there was smoke everywhere," Hampton said. "I went through three fire extinguishers and some water, but it was a losing battle and finally we had to abandon the house and let the firefighters do their job."

By the time fire crews arrived on the scene, flames were already licking through the outside wall, Hampton said.

"It was a very windy morning, and the fire just raced through the house," Mat-Su Borough Fire Chief Jack Krill said. "We tried aggressively to save half of the house, the garage and some of the adjoining rooms, but the wind was racing so much, especially through the roof, and it destabilized the whole structure."

Hampton and his son escaped from the house without injury, but were only able to save their two dogs, a pet ferret, a box of pictures and a briefcase.

Hampton's wife was out of town when the fire occurred and was scheduled to arrive back in the state on Monday.

The American Red Cross also responded Sunday, providing immediate assistance in the way of clothing, shoes and winter coats.

Krill said it appears the fire began on the first floor, inside an 18-inch raised platform area on which the wood stove rested.

Officials on Monday were still checking the house, portions of which were still smoldering, Krill said.

Because the damage was so severe, the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Krill said. The State Fire Marshal and borough officials are conducting an investigation.

A representative from Hampton's insurance company is also investigating the blaze, Krill said.

Fire service stations across the Mat-Su Borough responded Sunday morning with two fire engines, four fire chiefs, an ambulance, eight water tankers and 50 firefighters rotating throughout the day.

Krill said that when fire crews arrived early Sunday morning, they chain-sawed through the ice on Big Lake to set up a pump station, as water tankers came and went.

"Everyone did extremely well, it was a cold morning, and we tried to save what we could," Krill said. "The fire was 50-percent involved when we got there and it was outside the walls. This was one of the biggest house fires we've had in a long time in the borough."

Krill said although half the house is still standing, the structure will have to be completely torn down. Hampton lost his house in the 1996 Miller's Reach fire and had been building this custom house in the years since.

Hampton said the house was valued at more than $1 million. According to 2003 borough tax records, house improvements alone were valued at more than $300,000 last year.

"We started building in 1998 and had moved by 2001," Hampton said. "The house had a number of unique things in it that took a while to build. Now we'll just have to start over."

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.