Editor’s note: this story has been changed to remove a contested statement about the time of the cabin’s construction.
A cabin in Nikiski was destroyed by a fire Wednesday afternoon.
An engine and two tankers from the Nikiski Fire Department responded, as well as a Kenai Fire Department tanker.
The fire was extinguished by 5:30 p.m. The house was empty at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown.
An Enstar Natural Gas crew was also on the scene to shut off gas to the home. Enstar spokesperson Lindsay Hobson said on Wednesday afternoon that she did not know whether or not there had been a gas leak.
Clyde Reynolds, the home’s owner, said he was playing golf in Kenai when he heard of the fire around 3:30 p.m.
His wife and children were also out of the house, and his dog was in the yard. When he arrived, Reynolds said, fire crews had already been called by a neighbor and were busy putting out the blaze.
“I’m just glad it had been raining, and it didn’t start a forest fire up,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said he had enjoyed the cabin’s mountain view and personal history it contained.
“I got married in this house,” Reynolds said. “I got married in the driveway on horseback, and had the reception right there between those two windows.”
When asked if he planned to rebuild, Reynolds said “absolutely.”
“This is my property,” he said. “I’m never going to leave here. I’m going to be buried right back there. Hopefully not soon.”
Reach Ben Boettger at ben.boettger@peninsulaclarion.com.
