2 vehicles destroyed in South Anchorage fires on same street

Fires that destroyed two vehicles on the same South Anchorage street early Friday, described by firefighters as arson, are under investigation by police.

A fire crew was dispatched to a burning pickup truck on the 8500 block of Blackberry Street, west of Dimond High School, at 3:43 a.m., according to Anchorage Fire Department operations manager Cleo Hill.

Less than half an hour later, at 4:07 a.m., firefighters responded to a second burning vehicle just two blocks south on Blackberry.

Elisabeth Michlin said she lost a vehicle, a 2014 Acura MDX, in the second blaze. She was awakened by a dog barking at the commotion outside, followed by a police officer ringing her doorbell as firefighters from the pickup fire extinguished her SUV.

"That's actually how they found mine, because they were responding and they actually saw mine," Michlin said. "I'm just glad the vehicle didn't catch the house on fire – it was only like 5 feet away from the garage."

Fire investigator Brian Dean said no injuries were reported but both vehicles were total losses, according to the fire captain on the scene.

"He's indicated they're both arson fires," Dean said.

The fires have been assigned to Anchorage Police Department detectives, Dean said, but no suspects were in custody Friday morning.

No other vehicle fires were reported in Anchorage early Friday, Dean said.