Fire Officials say Burned Apartment was High-Risk

Juneau fire officials say the burned Gastineau Apartments building has long been considered a high-risk building.

The Gastineau Apartment building fire from Douglas Alaska, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012. A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew provided assistance by transporting six Sitka Fire Department personnel to assist Juneau firefighters put out the fire. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow

Tools

by Associated Press

Story Created: Nov 12, 2012 at 9:36 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Nov 12, 2012 at 9:36 PM AKDT

JUNEAU - Juneau fire officials say the burned Gastineau Apartments building has long been considered a high-risk building.

Nathan Young, the fire department's chief training officer, says lack of a sprinkler system, void spaces and poor exterior access are factors that make the 95-year-old downtown building a dangerous "target hazard" in terms of firefighting. The building burned last week.

The Juneau Empire says other older buildings in the downtown historic area are considered hazards, particularly because they are close to each other and are not required to have sprinkler systems.

Officials say buildings are subjected to codes in place at the time they were built.

Young says the fire department has recommended retrofitting the buildings in the past, but the idea was usually met with resistance because of the cost involved.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

Coastal Television | AK News, Weather and Sports | and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Poll

Should there be more safety precautions in place during Arctic Man?

  • Yes
  • No

Tonight on Your Alaska Link