Body found during investigation of Fairbanks house fire

According to a press release from the Fairbanks Fire Department a house fire was reported early Friday afternoon and upon investigation of the scene a body was found. At approximately 12:55 p.m. the Fairbanks Emergency Communication Center received several calls 911 calls reporting a structure fire at 232 Princess Drive. When Fairbanks Fire Department crews arrived on scene, they located the fire in a room on the second floor of the home. It took approximately 10 minutes to extinguish the fire. A deceased individual was found in the room where the fire had been. The identity of the deceased will be released after next of kin is notified. An investigation into the fire is being conducted, and anyone with information should contact Deputy Fire Marshal Moira Townsend at 907-450-6614 or by email. Fairbanks Police Department and the State Fire Marshal are also assisting in the investigation.
KTVF-TV NBC 11 Fairbanks

University of Alaska researchers study lessons learned from 2019 McKinley Fire

The summer of 2019 was an active season for wildfires. The Swan Lake, Caswell and McKinley fires consumed thousands of acres of land. The McKinley Fire destroyed 52 homes, 3 commercial structures, 84 outbuildings and 3,288 acres of land. Scientists with the University of Alaska system are working on a joint effort to study the impacts of the McKinley Fire on both the environment and the residents that lost their properties. The project title is “Fire and Ice” and is part of a number of studies being conducted by Alaska Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Fire and Ice is aimed at helping communities better understand, predict, prevent and react to wildfires. One of the tools the project uses to help in their education of communities is a film documenting the lessons learned from residents who were impacted by the McKinley Fire.
KATH-TV NBC 5 Juneau

Skagway hunkers down after confirming its first case of COVID-19

Officials in Skagway are asking residents to hunker down following the community’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, reported on Wednesday. The town of fewer than 1,000 people has been vigilant in keeping the coronavirus out, in anticipation of the return of cruise ships next year. With more than 10,000 cases of COVID-19 among Alaska residents, Skagway was one of the last boroughs without any cases. Now state public health nurses are conducting contact tracing after a resident tested positive at the Dahl Memorial Clinic. Borough Manager Brad Ryan said Skagway’s Emergency Operations Center takes the development very seriously. Residents are asked to shelter in place until contract tracing is complete. “The obvious concern is we’re a very small, tight knit community, so we have a lot of contact with each other,” Ryan said.
KTOO Radio

4.0 earthquake felt near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

The United States Geological Survey says a 4.0 earthquake hit near Eagle River Thursday morning. Information from the USGS says the earthquake was felt around 8: 05 a.m. about 11 miles from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The National Tsunami Warning Center says there was no tsunami created by the earthquake. According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, people in Eagle River, Girdwood, Anchorage, Chugiak, Wasilla, and Moose Pass felt the quake.
KTUU-TV NBC 2 Anchorage