A fire in Kenai on Monday morning resulted in a total loss of a duplex but has also inspired the community to rally around a mother of two.
The Kenai Fire Department was dispatched to 808 Auk Street for a structure fire at approximately 12:40 a.m. Monday morning. On arrival, crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof of the duplex apartment building, threatening a neighboring building.
The occupants of both apartments were home at the time of the fire but managed to escape without any injuries.
“I was woke up to pounding on my door,” said Megan Coleman. “I’m very thankful. I believe it was my neighbor that came and pounded on my door, and I was able to get out because probably within a couple of minutes, the roof was collapsing.”
Coleman, a mother of two, lived in one half of the duplex. Fortunately, her children were not with her that night, and she could escape before the fire engulfed the entire structure.
Two engines from Central Emergency Services, a ladder truck, and an ambulance from the Nikiski Fire Department assisted in controlling the fire. The fire was marked as “under control” at 01:47. Crews remained on scene through the early afternoon extinguishing hotspots.
According to the Kenai Fire Department report, “Smoke detectors alerted the occupants of one apartment, and those occupants alerted the other apartment of the need to evacuate.”
In the fire’s wake, the community rallied around Coleman after her brother, Dustin Moore, started a GoFundMe page to help his sister recover some of what she lost in the blaze.
“[It] started small, just the intent to get Megan and the kids what they needed,” said Moore. “It’s grown so much, so quickly, and I have countless messages, text messages [from] people reaching out to help, to donate, [ask] what else they can do, wanting to do meal trains, and it’s really honestly more than I can even keep up with in a good way.”
For Coleman, the community’s outpouring of aid has been a blessing amidst a tragic situation. “I hope I’d never have to go through something like this, but the amount of support has been just tremendous, and I’m so grateful for it.”
Folks from the community can donate to the fundraiser for Coleman by visiting her family’s GoFundMe page.
According to the KPD report, both apartments were a total loss, and all occupants were displaced. The neighboring building received minor damage.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.