This article has been updated to include additional information.
Despite efforts from firefighters and police, a Juneau resident and two dogs died following a trailer fire Friday morning.
The fire took place at Trailer No. 50 in the Glacier View Trailer Park shortly before 10:40 a.m., according to Capital City Fire/Rescue Chief Rich Etheridge. He said that upon arriving at the scene, firefighters were met by an injured woman standing outside the structure who told firefighters that a person was trapped inside the trailer.
According to a social media post shared by CCFR Friday evening, the trailer was occupied by two adults and at least one child at the time of the fire. The child and second adult were able to escape and were transported to Bartlett Regional Hospital for injuries. Authorities did not release the names of the survivors or the deceased.
“There was heavy smoke and fire rolling out the front door,” Etheridge told the Empire at the scene Friday morning. “The trailer was fully evolved, it’s a total loss.”
The fire hydrant used to fight the fire was buried in the snow and required firefighters to dig it out before water could be used to extinguish flames. Etheridge said the obstructed hydrant was not a factor in the deaths.
Etheridge said after doing an initial fire attack, firefighters entered the structure and discovered the body of a man and two dogs.
The bodies were removed from the structure and CCFR continued to attack the fire, he said.
At around 2 p.m. Etheridge said the fire was completely out, and officials would continue to remain on scene. After a fire origin and cause investigation, police and the fire marshal classified the fire as unintentional.
Etheridge estimated around 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water were used to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire is believed to be caused by an electric toaster that was in use before the fire occurred. It’s unclear what caused the toaster to ignite the trailer.
According to the post, the fire quickly spread to the cabinets directly above the toaster, and followed by it spreading across the ceiling and filling the space with hot gases and smoke.
Etheridge told the Empire Friday evening that Juneau Police Department has taken over the investigation.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.
Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighters move to extinguish a trailer fire Friday morning. The cause of the fire is believed to be caused by an electric toaster, officials say.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighter moves to extinguish a trailer fire Friday morning. The cause of the fire is believed to be caused by an electric toaster, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
