Alaska News

Two burned in steam bath explosion on Kodiak Island

Two people on Kodiak suffered major burns Monday night after accidentally stoking a steam bath with fuel oil instead of water, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Annie Deshasier and Jonathan Botz escaped from a banya, which burned to the ground Monday night, and drove to the hospital where they were admitted to the emergency room for treatment of their injuries.

The banya belonged to Chiniak resident Douglas Stewart, 60, who had invited Botz, 32, and Deshasier over for a steam on Monday evening at his residence on mile 42 of the Chiniak Highway.

Deshasier entered the banya first, troopers write. She took what she thought was a pail of water – but was actually fuel oil -- from the dressing area. She poured the pail over the banya's hot stove, and the fuel oil burst into flames and ignited the structure.

Botz helped Deshasier escape, but both received "major burns" on their bodies, troopers write.

Botz drove himself and Deshasier to the Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, where they were admitted to the emergency room. Botz was later released. Deshasier was flown to Seattle on Tuesday for further treatment.

The banya was a total loss, troopers write, and the fire caused extensive damage to Stewart's nearby residence. Roughly $20,000 in damage was estimated for both structures.

The incident appears to be accidental, troopers write.

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in October 2018.

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