Alaska News

Troopers: Nothing immediately suspicious about Mat-Su cabin fire after shots fired

Fire broke out at a cabin near Big Lake on Monday morning, just over a day after Alaska State Troopers arrested a 38-year-old Big Lake man for firing multiple shots at the same home.

Troopers are still investigating but don't believe anything suspicious is to blame, spokeswoman Megan Peters said.

Troopers on Sunday morning arrested Paul J. Meixner on one count of second-degree misconduct involving a weapon and third-degree assault after responding to a report of shots fired at a residence in the area of West Moonrise Drive at 11:30 p.m. Saturday, according to an online release posted Monday.

Meixner fired multiple gunshots, then fled the scene in a Ford Bronco but was found soon after still in the area, troopers said.

He was taken to Mat-Su Pretrial Facility on $15,000 cash bail and court-approved third-party custodian. He was still in custody Monday.

Meanwhile, at 7:12 a.m. Monday, a neighbor of the home in the 13000 block of Moonrise called 911 and told dispatchers it was on fire with 50-foot flames visible, according to deputy Mat-Su Borough emergency services director Clint Vardeman. The call came in as a possible methamphetamine lab, and there were also reports of one person inside.

Responders arriving at the fire said it wasn't a hazardous materials issue, Vardeman said. They found no one inside. The fire was knocked down within an hour. Damage estimates weren't immediately available.

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The shooting report and the fire happened at the same cabin, Peters said. Someone left a heater on before the fire started, she said. A car battery is only source of energy in the cabin.

The homeowner has requested the state fire marshal's office investigate, Central Mat-Su Chief James Steele said.

Reach Zaz Hollander at zhollander@adn.com or 257-4317.

By ZAZ HOLLANDER

zhollander@adn.com

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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