Neighbors, firefighters snuff out Houston cabin fire

HOUSTON — A Friday morning cabin fire next to Miller’s Market in Houston was quickly contained thanks to the help of quick-acting neighbors.

The fire broke out at around 11:30 a.m. in a row of rental cabins next to the market alongside the Parks Highway. Houston Fire Department spokesman Christian Hartley said a next-door neighbor who went outside to walk her dog discovered the blaze and called 911. By that time, a neighbor in the cabin on the other side of the fire also came out to check on the sound of smoke detectors going off.

Between them, the neighbors were able to use fire extinguishers to knock the fire down until more neighbors — this time firefighters from across the highway — arrived on the scene to put the fire out.

“We were here in about two and a half minutes,” Hartley said.

No one was home at the time of the fire, which Hartley said was caused by the use of an unattended heat lamp to thaw pipes beneath the building. Most of the damage was contained to the outside of the building.

Although the response was unusually fast due to the station's proximity, Hartley said the quick response by well-prepared neighbors was a major factor in keeping the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.

“Citizens having fire extinguishers definitely helped keep it at bay,” he said.

The Red Cross was called in to help the man whose cabin burned. Hartley said the cabin appeared to be livable, but there was some smoke damage.

Hartley said thawing pipes is a common source of wintertime fires in Alaska, and cautioned residents against using portable heaters beneath their homes.

“We discourage people from doing that," he said. "And if they are, not to leave them unattended."

Hartley said unattended heat sources are a recipe for disaster.

“You have to keep an eye on it,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2268 or email news@frontiersman.com.