March 31, 2009
Tuesday

Ketchikan, Alaska - The call came in to Ketchikan 911 dispatchers at 9:12 AM Monday morning for a house fire at 1722 1st Avenue. According to information provided by Fire Chief Jim Hill of the Ketchikan Fire Department, the house was vacant at the time and the call came from a neighbor that reported smoke coming from the front door of the residence. First arriving Ketchikan Fire Department units were on scene in less than five minutes. Because of the home's close proximity to other structures, mutual aid units were dispatched from the North and South Tongass Fire Departments to assist said Hill.

Hill said, "Firefighters quickly gained access to the house and extinguished a small fire in the living room area of the home. Several neighbors were evacuated for a short period of time as a precaution."

Fire Chief Hill said, "First arriving units got a surprise when they observed an Explosives Placard on the front door of the residence. It was soon learned from the occupant that the placard (sign) was just a joke and that no explosives were actually stored on-site." Preliminary fire-loss estimates are $20,000 with $10,000 damage to the structure and about $10,000 in damages to the contents of the residence said Hill.

Ketchikan Fire Department cleared the scene at 10:49 AM Monday and fire investigators from Ketchikan Police and Fire departments remained on scene until about 12:30 PM Monday afternoon.

Hill said, "At this time the cause is still under investigation."

22 Ketchikan Fire Department members responded on 7 pieces of apparatus. The North and South Tongass Fire Departments supplied mutual aid assistance. There were no injuries reported said Hill.

Source of News:

Ketchikan Fire Department

 

SitNews ©2009
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska