Alaska News

Fire destroys Skagway court and several businesses

The Skagway court office and several businesses in the same building were destroyed by fire Sunday morning, officials said.

The Skagway Fire Department was called to the fire just before 10 a.m. and found that nearly half of the building was already engulfed in flames, according to a statement from Fire Chief Emily Rauscher. Nearby homes were evacuated while crews worked to control the fire, the statement said.

No one was injured in the fire.

An investigation will be conducted by the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the statement said.

The Haines court will handle customer service and filings following the fire, said Rebecca Koford, a spokeswoman for the court system. No hearings were scheduled early this week, she said, and the court was generally only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

It wasn’t immediately clear what impact the closure will have on ongoing cases. Koford said the Skagway court handles a low volume of cases.

Tess Williams

Tess Williams is a reporter focusing on breaking news and public safety. Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Contact her at twilliams@adn.com.

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