The main grocery store in the Northwest Alaska village of Kobuk burned to the ground early Sunday, leaving the community of about 150 people with few options for buying food.
In an online dispatch, Alaska State Troopers said the Rainbow Cash & Carry caught fire sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. When troopers were contacted at 12:51 a.m. Sunday, the building was "fully engulfed in flames," the dispatch said.
"It was later reported that the fire spread to a house next to the store and a storage building for the store," troopers wrote.
People in the village tried to douse the flames but couldn't keep the power on or water pressure high enough to make much of an impact, said Henry Horner, a village leader.
"What else can you do," he said. "The fire was winning."
Kobuk has another small store, but the Rainbow Cash & Carry carries lower-priced items — and is the only place in town to offer fresh produce, he said.
Troopers said the same grocery store was broken into in May by a 20-year-old and two 19-year-olds, who are accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise. They were charged with theft.
On Monday, the Rainbow Cash & Carry's owner was meeting with the fire marshal, who is investigating the cause of the fire.