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Federal team to help probe Anchorage apartment complex fire

Published 12:17 am Friday, February 17, 2017

By The Associated Press

The burned remains of the Royal Suite Lodge in Anchorage are shown Wednesday after an early morning fire. Officials said several were injured in the deadly fire. The fire’s cause is under investigation. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press)
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The burned remains of the Royal Suite Lodge in Anchorage are shown Wednesday after an early morning fire. Officials said several were injured in the deadly fire. The fire’s cause is under investigation. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press)
The burned remains of the Royal Suite Lodge in Anchorage are shown Wednesday after an early morning fire. Officials said several were injured in the deadly fire. The fire’s cause is under investigation. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press)
The burned remains of the Royal Suite Lodge in Anchorage are shown Wednesday after an early morning fire. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press)
The burned remains of vehicles parked near the Royal Suite Lodge in Anchorage are shown Wednesday after a deadly fire. The fire’s cause is under investigation. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press)

ANCHORAGE — Fire officials in Alaska’s largest city say a federal team will assist in the investigation of an apartment complex fire that left two people dead and is being treated as a possible arson case.

Anchorage Deputy Fire Chief Jodie Hettrick said the request for help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives came after “rumors” and reports from possible witnesses that the early Wednesday fire might have been intentionally set.

But Hettrick said the primary reason for the request is because of the large fire scene at the Royal Suite Lodge complex.

One of the dead has been identified as 38-year-old Teuaililo Nua, but the identity of the second fatal victim hasn’t been released. Another 16 people were injured in the fire.

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