Woman found dead in house fire

CASWELL — An explosion reportedly preceded a blaze that killed a 42-year-old woman Tuesday.

According to a report from Alaska State Troopers, the fire was called in at around 10:45 a.m. near Mile 87.2 Parks Highway. One person made it out alive with only minor injuries.

That survivor, “told investigators that one person, Julia Weber, 42 of Talkeetna, did not make it out of the home. Weber's remains were recovered from the home after the fire was contained,” according to troopers.

The family dog also died in the fire.

The 3,000 square-foot home and its outbuildings were completely destroyed.

As for what caused the blaze, troopers say that the Alaska State Fire Marshal is investigating and that “an explosion occurred prior to the fire starting.”

This is the third fire involving a fatality in the Valley in two weeks. The first was Nov. 3 when a young boy lost his life in Meadow Lakes. The second was also in Caswell, actually in the same mile of the highway as Tuesday’s fire. Four people — two of them children — were found dead in that home, but troopers say not all of them died in the fire.