Rural Alaska

Suspects in custody after 2 found dead in Western Alaska home fire, troopers say

Two people died in a house fire this week in the Western Alaska village of Upper Kalskag, and two suspects are in custody related to the fire, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Around 8:30 a.m. Friday, troopers received a report of “an active disturbance” at a residence in Upper Kalskag, troopers said. They were told that a person in the home had a knife and that the family was barricaded in a bedroom, troopers said.

While troopers were en route to the Kuskokwim River village, they received another report that the house was on fire, according to Alaska State Troopers. It was “unconfirmed” whether the house was still occupied, troopers said.

Troopers and state deputy fire marshals arrived in Upper Kalskag, and they found two sets of remains inside the burned home, which was determined to be “a total loss,” according to the report.

Troopers said that two people were in custody related to the assault and the fire, and charges were pending. Troopers didn’t identify any of the individuals — the two deceased or those held in custody — in their report.

An autopsy is being conducted by the State Medical Examiner Office, and an investigation is ongoing, troopers said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported, based on information from troopers, that the fire occurred Wednesday. The fire happened Friday, according to court documents filed in the case.

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