BETHEL -- A fire was raging Tuesday morning through the Ayaprun Elitnaurviat Yup'ik immersion school and the Kuskokwim Learning Academy in Bethel, with every piece of firefighting equipment the Western Alaska hub city has at the scene as crews tried to save parts of the structure.
Crews were using a front-end loader to tear down part of the burning Kilbuck building in an attempt to make a firewall. Bethel's one ladder truck was also in use, with a firefighter pouring water into the building amid heavy smoke.
The Alaska Department of Transportation sent an airport fire truck to the scene.
"This is Bethel -- we are isolated. There is no one we can call for mutual aid," said City Manager Ann Capela. "We are just trying to contain it."