Wasilla fires destroy business, residence

WASILLA — Two buildings were destroyed and one couple left homeless after back-to-back Sunday fires that remain under investigation in Wasilla.

According to Mat-Su Deputy Fire Director Ken Barkley, a call around noon resulted in an elderly couple losing their West Lupine Lane home and a pet. Barkley said Central Mat-Su Fire Department responded to the call at 12:04 p.m. He said the original call suggested a couple was trapped in the home. However, it was discovered they had arrived home just before firefighters got to the scene.

Barkley said firefighters arrived eight minutes after the call to find the single-story, smaller home, fully engulfed. He said the home was heated with a wood stove and that both a fan and electric heater were in operation at the time the blaze began. Barkley said a nearby storage trailer as well as an adjacent occupied mobile home were spared any damage.

He said 30-35 firefighters from Central, Palmer and West Lakes departments responded and remained on-scene until 2:30 p.m. Houston Fire Department was on standby if needed, Barkley said. The couple was not insured.

The first call came in a half-hour earlier. Barkley said about 35 firefighters responded to a two-story, wood structure fire on Bear Street. When crews arrived, Barkley said the business was about 50 percent involved and that everyone inside had made it out safely. Both Central and Palmer departments responded. Barkley said Palmer firefighters were called away from that fire to battle the West Lupine Lane blaze. Crews remained at the scene for approximately three hours and Barkley said he structure was a total loss.

Cold temperatures hampered crews at both fires. Barkley said Red Cross personnel were at both incidents not only to help the homeowners of the house fire, but to supply firefighters with hydration and hot coffee.