Fire in East Anchorage duplex kills resident

A man who was severely injured in an East Anchorage duplex fire late Wednesday died after he was taken to a hospital, firefighters said Thursday.

Anchorage Fire Department Assistant Chief Alex Boyd said the victim appeared to be the sole resident of the residence on the 6900 block of Gemini Drive, near the Tudor-Muldoon curve. Crews first received a report of the fire at about 11:15 p.m. and brought it under control just before midnight.

"The fire appeared to be in the main floor of the house," Boyd said.

Boyd said the home was initially believed to be unoccupied when the 11 responding AFD units arrived.

"The victim in the fire was located during a routine search of the residence during fire suppression and pulled out of the building," Boyd said. "He was declared dead at the hospital."

Next of kin for the victim were being notified Thursday morning by Anchorage police, Boyd said.

Fire investigators had "a pretty good idea" of the fire's cause, which did not involve foul play, but Boyd said a formal determination wouldn't be made until more evidence was examined.

The fire was limited to one unit of the duplex, Boyd said, but the other unit likely has smoke damage. No cost estimate has yet been made for damage from the fire.