By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A pallet fire in a barbecue pit grew out of control Saturday night and burned the interior of the roof of the main shelter at the Halibut Point Recreation Area.
The fire was called in by two teens, ages 17 and 18, who said they’d been having a cookout with friends, and were burning freight pallets when the roof caught fire. The blaze charred a section of the interior around the cooking area, and a part of the steel chimney was destroyed.
Damage from a fire at the Halibut Point Recreation Area main shelter is pictured today. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
After trying on their own to put out the fire, the teens called 911 at 8:21 p.m. The Sitka Fire Department dispatched a fire truck, and firefighters put out the fire by 10 p.m. using extinguishers and hoses.
No damage estimate was available today from the fire department or the Department of Natural Resources.
It was the second shelter at the rec area damaged in the last year. In mid October a tree fell over in a storm and destroyed the North Shelter.
State parks Southeast Superintendent Preston Kroes said he’s still collecting information about the fire and damage, but expects repairs will be made in time for the busy summer season.
“It’s fairly common for people to want to have bonfires and those kind of gatherings, but not all that common they put it under a big pavilion,” he said. “Obviously it could’ve been worse and we’re glad nobody was injured. It’s just property – and maybe costly. ... I appreciate the fact that they took responsibility and called the fire department for assistance instead of letting it burn.”
He said pallet fires are not allowed in state parks for their tendency to grow out of control. But he said small fires are allowed in cookout pits under pavilions like the one at the recreation area.
As to whether the state parks division plans to replace the destroyed North Shelter next door, Kroes said it won’t be rebuilt anytime soon – or maybe never, given the availability of other shelters at the park.
