By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A fire at a two-family house on Anna Circle Friday caused massive smoke and heat damage to one of the apartments before it was contained, the Sitka Fire Department said today.
No injuries were reported, but fire, water, and smoke damage was estimated at $100,000, the fire department said.
The fire department received a 911 call at 5:13 p.m. from neighbors reporting smoke at the back side of the residence at 1945 Anna Circle.
Responding firefighters said they saw little smoke until they opened the door.
“We had black smoke and heat come pouring out, but no flames,” said acting Fire Chief Craig Warren.
The source of the fire was traced to a blocked vent on a clothes dryer in a downstairs bathroom.
“When the air doesn’t move outside, the heat builds up in the dryer, and gets hotter and hotter until things catch fire,” he said.
Firefighters break down a door at 1945 Anna Circle Friday as they respond to a fire. (Sentinel Photo)
About 20 firefighters responded, along with an EMS crew. Firefighters contained the blaze with a small amount of water, but there was extensive water damage from a pipe in the wall that had burst from the heat.
“The good news is that nobody was home and nobody was injured,” he said.
The tenants of the apartment, Christian Litten and Grace Ivers, were at work when the fire occurred. Litten said he had been doing laundry for about two hours and was almost done when he left around 3:50 p.m. to go to his job at the Channel Club. Some time after 5 p.m. he received a call from a friend who had seen the fire truck at his home.
Litten said that most of his and Ivers’ belongings were destroyed, and that they, along with the residents of the adjoining apartment, may not be able to move back in until repairs are made,
He said he and Ivers have been overwhelmed by the response from their friends and neighbors.
“We’re lucky to have this community,” he said. “The support we’ve gotten so far has been a lot.”
Ivers commented on her Facebook page that she also felt grateful for the quick response of the fire department, and the love and support they have received from many people.
“Luckily, no one was hurt, and the fire department was able to stop the fire before it took down the entire structure,” she wrote.
The couple set up a GoFundMe account to help not only themselves but the occupants of the adjoining apartment.
“... And we would like to let people know that a portion of these donations will be given to our neighbors, Anna Jack and her daughter Stefanie, who were also affected by the fire,” Ivers said..
While repairs are under way, Litten and Ivers are looking for a place to live in the meantime, Litten said.
More than $7,100 has been raised so far on the GoFundMe site, under “Christian and Grace Fire Recovery Fund.”
Warren said the accident is a reminder that everyone should make sure that their dryer vent “is free of obstruction – and there’s no lint obstructing it.”
Litten is the coach of the Sitka High drama, debate and forensics team and Ivers is owner of Graceful Pastries and is a pastry chef at Fisheye Cafe.
