Mat-Su firefighters responding to a fire that raced through a building in the Butte area Wednesday morning found people still running in and out of the burning structure, according to a local fire official.
Ken Barkley, director of fire and rescue with Matanuska-Susitna Emergency Services, said crews arrived at a South Bodenburg Loop residence at about 8 a.m. to discover a nearby 40-by-40-foot shop engulfed in flames. Several people were making trips into the building, removing goods as it burned.
"There was at least eight to 10 people who were there," Barkley said. "Some were neighbors, some were residents."
When the people didn't obey commands from firefighters to stop, Barkley said, Alaska State Troopers were called to help prevent people from entering the building.
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters confirmed in an email that troopers responded to the fire but said she didn't have any reports of charges associated with the call.
"It sounds like a lot of people left before we got there," Peters wrote.
Barkley said the shop was a total loss in the fire, which also destroyed two vehicles, a camper module for a pickup and several all-terrain vehicles in or near the building.
"They were able to save a motor home," Barkley said.
Although no injuries were reported in the fire, Barkley said fire crews discourage people from entering burning buildings again.