The fire was contained to an estimated 10 percent of the roof. The responders’ fast actions also saved about 75 of Lowell’s paintings.
“We didn’t really hear (the fire) or know anything about it until we’d gone to bed. I was about asleep and then my wife heard it,” Lowell said of the couple’s awareness of the flames threatening their home.
“I had two large fire extinguishers and I used one in the house and then went up on the roof and used another up there,” Lowell said. “I had a third one, but the fire department got there about that time. They got there really fast.”
Within 10 minutes of receiving the call, Anchor Point Fire Chief Joe Kent and a crew comprised of four firefighters and three emergency medical technicians were on the scene, with four more personnel arriving later. The icy, steep road leading to the Lowell residence caused a delay as the volunteer team was forced to put into practice some important training — installing tire chains on the equipment — in order to get Rescue 1, a truck caring 250 gallons of water, as well as a fire engine and a tanker to the site.
“Every minute counts, so that’s one of the things we try to be efficient at so we can get (the chains) on and get going again as soon as we get to a bad spot,” Kent said.
After arriving at the burning structure, Kent requested assistance from the Homer Volunteer Fire Department.
“We actually turned the fire over to them because they had more manpower,” Kent said.
Already in the midst of another response when the request came to assist Anchor Point, Homer Assistant Fire Chief Dean Thoemke responded with a crew of nine firefighters and EMTs and within 10 minutes arrived at the base of the hill below the Lowell residence.
“We held our tanker on the highway and supplied equipment, troops and personnel,” said Thoemke, who took over as incident command. Anchor Point was able to refill its tanker truck with water the Homer tanker was carrying.
According to Thoemke, the fire appeared to have started in the chimney flue, which then ignited roof material.
“One of our first priorities, after we identified exactly where the fire seat was at and got a look at the situation, was to save the assets and remove paintings from the structure should the roof continue to burn and we not be able to get it under control,” Thoemke said. Selling prices on Lowell’s paintings range from $750 to $30,000.
Praising the firefighters’ efforts, Lowell said, “They moved every painting, at least 75 of them, out of the house and saved them. They carried them 100 feet and more across the snow to the other buildings to save them. I didn’t expect them to do that stuff. That was awfully good of them.”
By 4 a.m., the fire was under control, with only 10 percent of the roof destroyed.
“It came up the chimney and extended about 15 feet on the roof peak and then came down on each side about three or four feet,” Thoemke said. “We maintained hose lines and positive water supplies for another 45 minutes, just taking a look and making sure we had everything out. I really didn’t want to go back.”
The only injuries were to an Anchor Point firefighter, who slipped on the ice and sprained an ankle, and to Lowell, who inhaled chemicals from his fire extinguishers.
“I got a lot of that in my lungs, but I’m OK,” Lowell said. “A little bit of discomfort but nothing serious. And we’re thankful for that.
“This is the kind of thing you can do without. It makes you scared of what can happen, if you’ll lose your house or not. Thanks to a lot of good people.”
Kent also expressed appreciation to the support given by Homer Volunteer Fire Department.
“They saved our bacon,” Kent said.
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.
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