Man dies in fire

WASILLA — Alaska State Troopers say a man was found dead in a trailer that burned in the Williwaw subdivision Thursday.

According to a trooper statement released Friday evening, the fire was reported at 8:24 p.m. Red Cross of Mat-Su reports the fire was on Copper Creek Drive.

Troopers say they were unable to identify the man and have sent his remains to Anchorage for an autopsy. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Mat-Su Borough Deputy Director of Emergency Services Clint Vardeman said that it was unclear as fire trucks and ambulances rolled to the scene if there was anyone inside.

“There was a person who went in and they didn’t see them come back out,” was how the fire was reported to dispatchers.

He said crews from both the Central Mat-Su and Palmer fire departments went to the trailer.

The Red Cross says that in addition to the one man who died another adult man was displaced and went to stay with friends. The Red Cross says it provided clothing, shoes and food and will continue to assist the man in Anchorage.

An animal also died in the fire, according to the Red Cross.

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