Crime & Courts

Burning copper wire at an Anchorage homeless camp starts brush fire

A Thursday brush fire that disrupted Anchorage traffic and prompted two agencies to respond began at a homeless camp where someone had burned insulation off copper wire, the Anchorage Fire Department has determined.

The fire, at Connors Bog off the northwestern corner of Minnesota Drive and Raspberry Road, was reported about 2:30 p.m. by a caller who saw smoke rising from the area, said Cleo Hill, Anchorage Fire Marshal.

The fire is a reminder that people need to be cautious as they grill or use backyard fire pits for Fourth of July on Wednesday, during a week forecasters predict will be extra warm and dry in Southcentral Alaska, fire officials said.

To reach Thursday's brush fire, crews had to hike in about half a mile, she said. Flames leaped 20 feet when firefighters arrived. The fire grew close to half the size of a football field before it was doused.

It appears people left the homeless camp before crews arrived, Hill said. Anchorage fire personnel found what they determined to be a large amount of stolen property at the site, she said.

Multiple outdoor fires in recent years in Anchorage have been blamed on homeless camps.

[Propane tanks are a target for thieves camping in city woods.]

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The stash included a large pile of copper wire, about 5 feet by 5 feet, Hill said.

"It looks like they were burning insulation off the copper wire and the fire spread," she said.

People can sell the copper for cash, after stealing it from empty homes or construction sites.

The stolen property was turned over to the Anchorage Police Department. Hill did not know what other items were found, beyond the copper wire.

Fourteen vehicles responded to the fire from the Anchorage Fire Department. The state Division of Forestry brought in a crew, helping with mop-up.

"We were there a couple of hours doing mop-up, looking for hot spots, making sure it was entirely out," said Hill.

The Anchorage Police Department issued a traffic alert, notifying drivers that the westbound lanes of Raspberry at Minnesota were closed at the off ramp during the response.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

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