Houston structure fire claims life

In the early morning hours on Monday, in the cold air that measured -27 degrees, firefighters from the Houston Fire Department, with aid from West Lakes Fire and Willow Fire Departments, responded to a residential structure fire with no all-clear in the Enchanted Forest Subdivision in Houston.

An initial calls from a neighbor reported they did not know where the resident occupant was, necessitating a no-all-clear, as it could not be verified if the occupant had evacuated the structure.

Alaska State Troopers were also on scene within minutes of the 9-1-1 call, relaying that the structure appeared to be fully engulfed in fire and that it had already collapsed upon itself. Fire and Emergency Medical Service responders were on scene approximately 10 minutes after they were dispatched to assist with firefighting efforts, working to keep the fire from spreading to a neighboring home.

During firefighting operations, firefighters found an adult victim inside the residence and AST was notified of the discovery.

The State of Alaska’s Fire Marshal’s Office was requested and responded to the scene to assist in a cause and origin investigation and arrived on the scene within an hour of the request.

Houston Fire Chief Christian Hartley reports that 16 firefighters responded to the blaze, as well as 2 ambulances initially. Matanuska Electric Association also responded to help a neighbor who lost power, and subsequently heat, due to an isolated power outage caused during the fire. The American Red Cross of Alaska responded in case the neighbor needed assistance.

The subzero temperatures slowed down firefighting efforts and while no personnel reported any injuries, Chief Hartley also said one of the Houston FD fire trucks was damaged by the cold weather, requiring it to be taken out of service as repairs were made to the exhaust system. It has since been returned back to active service at this time.

With the frigid temperatures that have blanketed the Mat-Su Borough for the past week, there is an increase in structure fire calls the fire departments receive, most as a result of people trying to find ways to heat their homes.

Chief Hartley want to pass along a few reminders.

“Make certain that your chimneys have been cleaned professionally and test your smoke alarms every month,” he says, adding, “it is so important that people have smoke alarms to give them as much time as possible to become awake, aware, and out of their homes.”

One other thing residents can do? Have a visible address sign.

“The best Christmas gifts that citizens can give their local emergency responders is an address sign that is visible from the road and a driveway that is accessible all the way to their front door.”