Blaze causes substantial damage
to downtown home
by Dick Kauffman
September 06, 2004
Monday
Ketchikan, Alaska - What has been
called a stubborn blaze caused substantial damage Sunday to a
three-story house located above the downtown tunnel at 411 Front
Street. According to information provided by David Hull of the
Ketchikan Fire Department, the fire was difficult to fight due
to the construction and the age of the building. Firefighters
were eventually pulled off the structure when smoke and fire
conditions along with increasing instability of the structure
itself made interior operations too dangerous for the firefighters.
Heavy smoke conditions
contributed to making the blaze difficult to fight...
Photo by Dick Kauffman ©2004
Firefighters were able to eventually get the fire extinguished
after battling the blaze for approximately four hours. The basic
structure of the house still stands although sustaining substantial
damage if not more. Fire damage was reported throughout the house
including the apartment located on the 3rd floor of the building.
This fire call was the second
this year in which personnel from the three fire departments
fought together to control a fire. The first was in May on Strawberry
Lane when a double wide trailer caught fire. In all, 8 department
vehicles responded to Sunday's blaze with 22 firefighters from
the Ketchikan Fire Department, 9 firefighters from South Tongass
Volunteer Fire Department, and 4 firefighters from the North
Tongass Volunteer Fire Department.
According to Hull, the cause
of the fire is unknown although it may possibly be accidental.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
There were no injuries reported.
The name of the owner is unknown.
The early stages of
the fire at 411 Front Street on Sunday, September 5th. Among
the first fire fighters to arrive, Lt. Ken Montero and Firefighter
Jason Spear are seen climbing the stairs over the tunnel on the
way to the fire. Heavy smoke conditions are seen from the water
side of the house.
Photo by Wayne Knudson of Schallerer's
Photo & Gift Shop ©2004
A view from the walkway
to the upper apartment.
Heavy smoke conditions are seen before the arrival of firefighters
indicating the fire had a good head start before the arrival
of the first units.
Photo by Wayne Knudson of Schallerer's
Photo & Gift Shop ©2004
Incident Commander
Lt. Kevin Murphy (blue T-Shirt), confers with firefighters in
front of the burning building at 411 Front Street. Firefighters
from North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department and South Tongass
Volunteer Fire Department were called to assist Ketchikan Fire
Department with the stubborn blaze. Firefighters were eventually
pulled out of the structure when smoke and fire conditions along
with increasing instability of the structure itself made interior
operations too dangerous.
Photo by Wayne Knudson of Schallerer's
Photo & Gift Shop ©2004
Firefighters can be
seen attempting to attack the fire from the front of
the house and the walkway to the second floor apartment. Fire
can be
seen coming from under the eves.
Photo by Wayne Knudson of Schallerer's
Photo & Gift Shop ©2004
Firefighters working
outside the structure spray water on the stucture in an attempt
to control the fire...
Photo by Dick Kauffman ©2004
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