The fire that incinerated an eight-unit apartment building in Nome was likely human-caused. Acting fire chief Jerry Steiger said the exact cause is still undetermined.
“We do not have the exact cause of the fire, except that it was not anything to do with the building itself as far as electrical, heat, or anything like that,” said Steiger.
KTUU’s Grace Jang reports the city requested Alaska State Troopers investigate what may have caused the blaze. Deputy fire marshal Chris Grooms conducted a scene investigation over the weekend and shared with police his preliminary findings.
Nome police Chief John Papasodora said they’re analyzing the information they have, and won’t yet classify the human cause as accidental or arson.
Steiger said the damage to the building was extensive, but some apartments will likely be salvaged.
“I believe the whole north-south oriented housing will probably be demolished,” said Steiger. “The two apartments that are to the north were only affected by the Fire Department making sure the fire did not spread into those apartments, so it mostly had some smoke in it, but very little fire extent…”
Gerald Brown, Vice President of Bering Straits Native Corporation, said they’re still evaluating damages in the apartments, but he said those with the least damage should be operational again relatively soon. Cost of damages totaled about $325,000.
Melinda Erickson with Bering Straits Development Corporation said the three families who were displaced from the completely ruined apartments have been moved out of the Aurora Inn to new permanent residences. The rest of those who were displaced by the fire—totaling about 20—are still at the inn on Front Street, where they’ve been put up by BSNC.
Erickson says BSDC is grateful that more than enough material donations have now reached the fire victims. Thanks to the help of Ravn and Bering Air, people from surrounding villages were able to send in a flood of food and other donations—and Red Cross volunteers who were in town to assist left Monday afternoon. For now, Erickson says those still hoping to help can contribute monetary donations.
