A fire in the village of Emmonak destroyed five commercial buildings and caused an estimated $3 million in damages over the weekend.
According to a report filed by the Alaska State Troopers, the local troopers and the Village Public Safety Officer were called around 1:30pm Saturday afternoon. Smoke was seen billowing out of the Kwik’Pak Fisheries warehouse. Kwik’Pak is a commercial fisheries business and the village’s largest employer.
According to the report, efforts to put out the fire were unsuccessful due to “failed and inoperable equipment.” The fire spread rapidly, destroying three Kwik’Pak Fisheries buildings. It also engulfed and destroyed two buildings belonging to Yukon Marine Manufacturing, a local boat-building business. When the trooper report was filed more than 24 hours after the incident, the fire was still burning. No injuries were reported and no foul play is suspected. Damage to all five commercial buildings is currently estimated at $3 million.
