WASILLA -- A stubborn fire burning for hours Tuesday morning in a commercial building just outside downtown Wasilla drew a massive response from Matanuska-Susitna Borough firefighters but caused no injuries, authorities say.
The fire was reported just before 5 a.m. in a two-story building off Wasilla-Fishhook Road near Nelson Avenue that contains Crescent Electric Supply Company and a thrift store, according to Mat-Su emergency services director Dennis Brodigan. Two adults and two children escaped an upper-floor apartment and were getting help from American Red Cross of Alaska.
The building also housed the offices for Hope for Heroes Inc., a nonprofit that helps military families and veterans in need.
Officials called "just about every piece of fire apparatus between Palmer and Houston" to the scene," Brodigan said. The incident commander asked for help from Chugiak fire crews at about 7 a.m.
The 100-foot by 200-foot metal building was already 25 percent lost to fire by the time the first unit arrived, he said.
Crews began working hours before first light Tuesday morning to save the building and make sure the fire didn't spread. They were still spraying water on stubborn flames in the roof after 9 a.m. A huge plume of smoke hung in the air over Wasilla, clearly visible to drivers on the Parks Highway.
"I don't know why they're having such a hard time extinguishing it," Brodigan said. "They just can't extinguish the roof. It keeps relighting."
Area roads were closed and Matanuska Electric Association shut down power to the area due to a downed live power line to the building, he said.
A Facebook post from MEA said that about 200 of the cooperative's customers in the area were without electricity after crews shot off power to aid fire-fighting efforts. A subsequent Facebook post, at 9:40 a.m., said that power was still out in the affected area.
"We're hoping it won't be too much longer, but want to ensure that the situation is stable before power is reenenergized," MEA wrote. "We thank you for your patience this morning as we try to be as safe as possible for all of those involved."
Wasilla-Fishhook Road and Nelson Avenue are shut down and are expected to remain so "for a while," Brodigan said, so fire trucks can reach hydrants.
Iditarod Elementary School, located on Wasilla-Fishhook, was closed early Tuesday morning, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District spokeswoman Catherine Esary said. "Children who were already en route to school via bus were taken to Wasilla Middle School," she wrote, and Iditarod elementary school staff were redirected there as well. "The kids are safe and the school is not in danger of fire. Parents can drop their children off at Wasilla Middle School or keep them home."
Esary added that Iditarod students who miss school today won't face any consequences.
Students were allowed to return to the school at about 10 a.m., but after-school activities are cancelled.
Authorities say they don't yet know what caused the blaze.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.