Thursday, May 23, 2013

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Two Fires Burn Apartments on Fort Wainwright
Two fires were reported in military housing on Fort Wainwright this week. In both fires, a three-bedroom apartment was destroyed but other units were spared.
By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner


FAIRBANKS — Two fires were reported in military housing on Fort Wainwright this week. In both fires, a three-bedroom apartment was destroyed but other units were spared.

No people or pets were hurt in either fire.

The first fire was reported Sunday evening in the Southern Cross development, and the second was reported Wednesday evening several miles away in the Denali Village development.

There is no reason to believe the two fires are connected, said Betsy Wooley, a spokeswoman for North Haven Communities, the public-private partnership that operates housing on Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely. 

The cause of the fires is still under investigation.

In Sunday’s fire, no damage occurred in three connected apartments because of firewalls between the units, Wooley said. In Wednesday’s fire, the three adjoining apartments received smoke damage.

“We’re really pleased that the fire suppression units did exactly what they were supposed to, although we wish they hadn’t been tested like this,” she said.

Fort Wainwright Fire Department responded to both fires. On Sunday, the department was assisted by North Star Volunteer Fire Department.

Contact staff writer Sam Friedman at 459-7545.