Approximately two weeks after a vehicle fire on the Klondike Highway, the Skagway Fire Department was called to a structure fire. There were no injuries and the fire was contained.
The Skagway Fire Department responded to a fire on June 8 at 4:20 p.m. An accessory building on Ninth Avenue had flames coming through the roof.
The property is directly next to the former Jewell Complex, which burned in February of 2023. The complex is still fenced off and contains charred remains.
Resident Mark Walker was about a block away at a playdate with his toddler son when he realized something was wrong.
“We heard a boom, come from the east, I guess, from where we were,” Walker says. “And so we hopped up and went down the alley.”
Walker and his friend tried to call 911, but couldn’t get through. Probably Walker says, because others were calling to report the incident.
“By the time we got down there, the whole front porch was ablaze,” Walker says.
Walker was surprised by the location of the fire.
“Oh, that’s, that’s just wildly improbable that that would happen,” he says.
Lot owner, Kathy Shen, recently finished repairing damage to the main home caused by last year’s neighboring fire.
She says the building affected by last week’s fire was employee housing. The main house and storage trailer were unharmed. She says, “the fire department did a great job” and “the important thing was no one was hurt.”
According to Fire Chief Emily Rauscher, the fire is believed to be accidental in nature, having started on the front porch. Skagway’s six career and two volunteer firefighters responded to the incident, as well as three rehab volunteers. The rehab team ensures first responders can rest, stay hydrated and eat. They also screen first responders for emerging medical issues.
While it was a long day for everyone, it was a marathon of a day for one family – the Rupprechts. Husband, Shane, is a professional firefighter and wife, Kortney, is a rehab volunteer. That morning, they ran the Duff’s Half Marathon. When the call came, they both reported for fire duty.
Chief Rauscher reminds the public to stay clear of an area when there is a working fire.
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