Anchorage

Fire destroys Chugiak home inaccessible to larger fire trucks

A fire Sunday evening destroyed a Chugiak home at the end of a long driveway on Upper Fish Hatchery Road that complicated firefighting efforts, fire officers say.

The house at the top of the steep road was accessed by a winding, 3,000-foot driveway impassable for full-sized fire trucks, according to Chugiak Volunteer Fire and Rescue Chief Clifton Dalton. The department stationed a water truck at the base of the driveway, put a brush truck halfway up to add water pressure, and ran fire hose from the bottom of the road to the top, hand-laying it and running crews up via four-wheelers, Dalton said. "That was quite an ordeal."

The home was already halfway engulfed in flames when the first responder arrived, he said. It was unclear who notified authorities; a thick black column of smoke visible from the Glenn Highway in Eagle River triggered numerous 911 calls.

About 40 Chugiak responders and 13 pieces of equipment fought the fire, as well as an engine from the Alaska Division of Forestry, which was dispatched to keep flames from spreading into surrounding grass and forest, Dalton said.

It wasn't immediately clear how many people the fire displaced.

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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