Second Valley fire in two days destroys Palmer home

PALMER -- A second Mat-Su house fire in as many days destroyed a home north of Palmer on Monday morning.

According to Palmer Fire Chief John McNutt, a house fire at a home on North Smith Street off of Soapstone Road was reported at around 9 a.m. Monday. When firefighters arrived, McNutt said all the occupants of the structure were out and the home was about 50 percent engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from Palmer and the Butte worked the fire for about two hours before it was out. McNutt said the home was a complete loss.

The homeowner declined to comment at the scene. McNutt said he believed three people were displaced by the fire.

McNutt said the cause of the fire was under investigation but that it appeared to have started in a wood stove.

The house was the second destroyed by fire in two days in the Valley. On Sunday, a house fire near Big Lake left seven people temporarily homeless.