CES douses two structure fires

Central Emergency Services responded to two structure fires Thursday night, one at Cad-Re Feed in Soldotna and the other on Swanson River Road in Sterling, shortly after responding to a medical emergency at approximately 5:35 p.m.

While responding to a critical patient call, CES received a structure fire call on Swanson River Road in an approximately 45 by 30-foot shop that was “well involved,” according to CES Chief Roy Browning. No one was hurt in the fire and no cause has been reported.

Shortly after a second call was made for a forklift that was on fire inside Cad-Re Feeds & Grandma’s Cupboard off the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna. Employees were inside the building at the time of the fire, but were able to evacuate safely and call 911, Browning said. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the Cad-Re Feed fire is still under investigation, but it is believed to have started from the forklift in one of the side buildings. Responders were able to keep the fire contained to the area under the side building’s roof, Browning said.

Currently, there is no estimate to the amount of damaged caused in either fire.

“On the (Swanson River Road) fire, I think the shop was well involved,” Browning said.

At the Cad-Re Feed fire, Browning said he was unsure of the damages, “because obviously there are a lot of food and feed supplies that haven’t been accounted for.”

CES had between 25 and 30 firefighters at both scenes to douse the fires, according to Browning.

“It’s choppy, three calls at once. It’s not unusual to have three calls, but to have two fires in large buildings, commercial warehouses, is unusual,” Browning said.

Kat Sorensen can be reached at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com