Weekend Butte fire displaces two siblings

WASILLA — A weekend fire in the Butte has displaced a woman and her younger teen-aged brother, and family members are hoping to get them back on their feet.

The Saturday evening fire burned a barn and upstairs apartment being leased by Joshua Hale, who owns Alaska Horse Adventures. Hale also said the fire destroyed the apartment where his two siblings were living

“My sister Hosanna and my younger brother Jonathan were living in the apartment above the barn and pretty much lost all their personal belongings,” Hale said, adding that both Hosanna and Jonathan work for his horse-drawn sleigh and trail riding business.

A nearby office Joshua Hale had built on the property was also damaged. No one was hurt, although Joshua said Jonathan lost two small birds.

“No one was there at the time of the fire and thankfully no livestock,” he said. “I had moved a pregnant mare and another horse out of there the day before.”

According to Central Mat-Su Borough fire department deputy director Ken Barkley, Palmer and Butte fire crews responded to the call, noting that no injuries were reported and that the barn was a total loss.

Hale said the fire — which he figures was electrical or furnace related — did prove costly for his business.

“I probably lost $8,000 to $10,000 in tools, saddles and a 1930s wedding wagon,” Hale said. “The fire damaged part of the office, but we can rebuild that.”

Hale said so far with church and family help, Hosanna and Jonathan are doing well, but the family could use some help.

“They’re being taken care of, they’re just going to need some help getting settled again,” he said.

Hale said an account under Hosanna Hale’s name has been established at the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. The account number is 4468059. He said updates about the family can be found on the Alaska Horse Adventures Facebook page at http://bit.ly/1UiE0id. The family needs numerous household items and is asking anyone who wants to help to call (907) 982-8281 for more information about what is needed.

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com