Fire destroys home in Eagle River

Dozens of firefighters extinguished a blaze in Eagle River that destroyed a home and left two people injured early Tuesday.

"The investigation is ongoing (into the fire's cause)," said Jodie Hettrick, Anchorage Fire Department deputy chief. "It will probably take quite a while before we figure that out."

The department was called at 4:58 a.m. about the fire at 24864 Eagle River Road, she said. The house was "fully engulfed" in flames when firefighters arrived. They focused on stopping flames from spreading beyond the house.

"We transported two patients with what appear to be minor injuries," Hettrick said.

It took firefighters two hours to get the fire under control, in part because the house was large, Hettrick said. The house was beyond the range of fire hydrants, but the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department provided water trucks.

Hettrick said about 20 fire vehicles from both departments responded. Some remained on the scene as firefighters did "overhaul" work, making sure the fire was completely extinguished, she said at 7:30 a.m.