Friday, May 24, 2013
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Apartment Fire Still Under Investigation
Update: APD releases name of victim
By Kate McPherson
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UPDATE: APD has released the name of the fire's victim, 41-year-old V. Angelica Flores. Marco Florez Sr. 40, and his son Marco Florez Jr. 22, were able to escape the burning building with Florez Jr.’s 3 year old daughter Isabella Florez.
Anchorage police are being tight-lipped about the death of a woman in an apartment building fire on Sunday morning. Police are not releasing the victim’s name yet.
Both police and fire investigators are still working at the scene tonight at Homestead Court off Lake Otis Parkway, and they aren’t giving any information about the cause of the fire or the family involved.
There was no shortage of fire and police investigators at the Homestead Court Apartment building today. “There’s expertises in different areas, and they are working together as a cohesive team, just processing it as diligently and methodically as they can,” said Al Tamagni of the Anchorage Fire Department.
Three people, including a 3-year-old girl, survived the flames, but a woman who is believed to be the child’s grandmother died. An autopsy was completed this morning but police are not releasing any information about the woman, her family or the circumstances of the fire until the investigation is complete.
Eleven Anchorage Fire Department units responded to a 911 call at 8:40 Sunday morning and an additional 9 units were sent as backup because of the strong winds.
Monday, both family and neighbors continued to deal with the aftermath. One other apartment sustained a small amount of damage.
A dog was also killed in the fire, and the circumstances surrounding the blaze – how it began, why the woman did not get out alive – continue to keep investigators busy.
The results of the autopsy could take a week or more. The apartment is considered a total loss, and the Red Cross has made itself available to the surviving family members if they need housing and other assistance.
