House used as checkpoint for Iditarod burns down

FAIRBANKS — A Nikolai home that is used as a checkpoint for dog races has burned down.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported that the home, which is a checkpoint for both the Iron Dog and Iditarod, caught fire Tuesday morning.

Nikolai city mayor Tamara Roberts said no one was hurt In the fire, though the owner was home when the blaze began. A neighbor first spotted the smoke and was able to pull the owner from the house. It is unclear what caused the fire.

Roberts saidthe building was a total loss. Nikolai lacks a formal volunteer fire department and the home was engulfed in flames before the community was able to organize firefighting efforts.

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