This story has been updated with additional information.
A Juneau man is facing arson and assault charges after being arrested at the scene of a fire that destroyed a two-story house and adjacent 30-foot-long travel trailer in the Mendenhall Valley on Thursday morning, according to police and fire officials.
Talon Lobaugh, 35, was arrested at the scene of the fire in the 9400 block of Glacier Highway following a fire marshall’s investigation, according to a Juneau Police Department bulletin issued Friday. He was arrested on one count of first-degree arson involving domestic violence, one count of third-degree domestic violence assault and one count of third-degree assault.
The fire occurred at about 6:20 a.m. Thursday, said Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Sam Russell. He said the fire started in the travel trailer and spread to the house, and the cause remains under investigation.
“There were some folks home and they successfully got out without injury,” he said.
Although the trailer and house were fully engulfed by the fire, firefighters responded quickly enough there was no danger of it spreading to other structures, Russell said.
The Red Cross was contacted and is working to assist displaced residents, and local animal control officials responded to care for several cats, according to the JPD statement. Both structures were deemed uninhabitable and access to the area is not permitted due to unsafe conditions.
Russell said the location has been the site of a previous fire. In May of 2023 a fire to a two-story residence there originated on the exterior corner of the home, traveled vertically to the roof vent, and burned the interior wall space and attic spaces. Damage at the time was estimated at approximately $2,000.
Lobaugh was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center following his arrest. He was subsequently charged with first-degree arson (a class A felony) and two counts of third-degree assault for causing fear of injury with a weapon (a class C felony), according to the Alaska Court System’s online database.
He had a felony first appearance Friday morning at the Juneau Courthouse and a preliminary hearing is scheduled at 11 a.m. May 10.
A second residential fire this week occurred at about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday in the 7000 block of Douglas Highway, according to a CCFR statement. A person passing the house called “911” and notified the occupant of the house about the fire that originated in the wood stove stack area.
“Initial arriving crews found fire on the exterior of a single family home,” the statement notes. “Crews extinguished the fire and opened up the walls and attic space to make sure there was no extension into other concealed spaces.”
Damage was estimated by CCFR at approximately $5,000.
“There is no connection between the two structures fires” this week, according to CCFR.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
