Saturday, May 25, 2013

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Arsonist Arrested for Midtown Apartment Fire That Displaced Dozens
AFD: Resident charged with arson, reckless endangerment
By Megan Edge


ANCHORAGE - A 41-year-old woman was arrested Friday, accused of starting the Thursday fire that gutted a Midtown apartment building, killing at least three pets, injuring two people and displacing dozens of people, said an Anchorage Fire Department spokesperson.

Jenae Collins lived in the Calais Arms building, said AFD spokesperson Al Tamagni. Collins was charged with arson and reckless endangerment. She was booked into the Anchorage pre-trial jail, and will be arraigned over the weekend.

Calls to 911 started pouring in at about 8:40 a.m. Thursday about the blaze consuming the 24-unit building on Eureka near 34th Avenue.

Callers said heavy smoke was pouring out of the roof and south side of the building. 

It took firefighters about two hours to get the blaze under control.

KTVA interviewed Jenae Collins Thursday, shortly after the fire. For the full interview, click here.