NPI LLC, the former wood chipping and exporting company that shipped Asia-bound wood chips from Port MacKenzie in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, will end its offer of free firewood today.
Company spokesman Ron Arvin said he was shocked at how many people have driven to the company's Port MacKenzie site to cut and load free wood. He estimated that 650 loads of free wood would have been hauled away by Friday evening. That's hundreds more than Arvin said he had expected. By weekend's end, Arvin said, he guessed the whole pile of trees the company owned, about 1,000 cords of wood, would be gone.
Arvin announced the free wood offer -- one pickup load of wood per family to anyone who would drive to get it -- about two weeks ago. He said he felt compelled to offer the pile of white spruce and birch the company had on its property after hearing that a fire in an Anchorage four-plex had started because a resident burned cardboard in the fireplace.
NPI is offering assistance for elderly or disabled people who aren't able to cut and load the wood.
To check on availability or to schedule assistance cutting and loading the wood today, leave a message at the company's Wasilla office, 357-3722.
People seeking free wood should bring a chain saw during daylight hours to the company's site at South Lu Young Lane off Point MacKenzie Road. From Wasilla, follow Knik-Goose Bay Road to Point MacKenzie Road. Drive seven miles to a T intersection, turn left and follow Point MacKenzie Road another 14 miles. Lu Young Lane is the first right after Cook Inlet becomes visible.
Anchorage Daily News
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