A residential fire in Switzer Village Mobile Park on Monday marked the second house fire in three days in the Lemon Creek neighborhood.
On Saturday, Dec. 20, Juneau Police Department and Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a call placed around 7:30 p.m. reporting a fire, with the caller saying a resident may have been inside. A man was found deceased after CCFR extinguished the fire.
JPD later released the name of the deceased as 38-year-old Juneau resident Calvin Olsen. Olsen played a pivotal role in creating Sacred Shine, the body shop owned by Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
The second fire occurred around noon on Monday, Dec. 22 in the same neighborhood. No one was home during Monday’s fire, according to CCFR.
The causes of both of the fires are still under investigation, CCFR said.
CCFR put out a statement Monday afternoon stating that the cold, record-breaking temperatures of this past week have been challenging for the department.
“The cold weather has made operations much more difficult,” CCFR wrote. “Firefighters get exhausted faster, equipment freezes or breaks and getting access into buildings can pose a challenge.”
CCFR Fire Marshal Theresa Ross recommended some basic safety measures to prevent house fires during cold stretches:
- Keep space heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials such as curtains, furniture, and bedding. Choose models with safety features like automatic shut-off in case of tipping or overheating.
- Schedule an annual inspection and cleaning of your chimney to remove creosote buildup, which is highly flammable. Always use a sturdy fireplace screen to prevent embers from escaping.
- Avoid overloading circuits by plugging only one heat-producing appliance into an electrical outlet at a time to prevent overheating and potential fires.
- Regularly check your electrical systems and appliances for any signs of wear or damage, especially those used for heating.
