The Triumvirate Theatre in Nikiski is reportedly a “total loss” following a Saturday morning fire at the community playhouse.
Alaska State Troopers were notified of the fire at approximately 3:15 a.m. by a passerby, who reported that a commercial building near Mile 16 of the Kenai Spur Highway was “fully engulfed” in flames, according to a Saturday trooper dispatch.
Fire personnel from Nikiski, Kenai and Soldotna responded. According to the trooper dispatch, initial estimates place losses near $500,000. There were no injuries. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the origin of the fire, the dispatch said.
Joe Rizzo, executive director of the theater, told the Clarion on Saturday that he was alerted to the fire at about 3:30 a.m. By the time he arrived at the theater, fire personnel had responded to the scene. He said the south side of the building had already collapsed on top of itself.
“It’s a total loss,” he said. Rizzo called the fire “devastating,” and said he’s not sure what the next steps for the theater will be.