Firefighters put out chimney fire, save house

JOHN DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

Firefighters saved a Wasilla-area home from going up in flames Sunday night after a chimney fire spread to the roof and attic, said Michael Keenan, assistant fire chief at Mat-Su Central Fire Department.

No one was injured at the single-story family home of Kelley Sharrow, although four people were reportedly at the residence when the blaze began.

About three dozen firefighters from Central Mat-Su Fire Department responded to the call, at the corner of Fairview Loop and Bearpaw. Keenan said crews brought three fire engines, five water tankers, a rescue truck and an ambulance to the scene.

Part of the roof was burned off, but most of the single-story house and its contents were saved, Keenan said. Firefighters reportedly had to punch holes in the roof to get at the fire, causing some peripheral damage. This is the second chimney fire Central Mat-Su has responded to in recent weeks.

Chimney fires are more difficult to stop and generally cause more peripheral damage to the house because firefighters have to go through the roof, Keenan said.

"We want to tell people who burn, their chimney needs to be inspected regularly by professional chimney sweeps," Keenan said. "The frequency of checks depends on how much wood they burn."

The American Red Cross also responded to the blaze, but the homeowner declined aid at the time.

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