A family home on Barabara Drive, off of Beaver Loop Rd., was lost to a devastating fire Saturday afternoon, as flames quickly consumed the two-story structure and spread to nearby grassland.
Kenai Fire Chief Jay Teague said crews were dispatched just before 4:00 p.m. and arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames.
“Our crews arrived on scene to a two-story single-family residence with heavy fire and smoke on both floors of the structure,” Teague said.
The intense heat caused a fast-moving grass fire, which firefighters rushed to contain before it reached the surrounding trees. Once under control, crews focused on protecting nearby vehicles and structures. The collapse of the second floor made it too dangerous to fight the fire from inside.
“The heavy fire load, fully engulfed structure, and collapse of the second floor made interior firefighting operations impossible,” Teague said.
Firefighters from Central Emergency Services joined the response, and the fire watch remained in place through the night and well into Sunday to prevent rekindling.
While no injuries were reported, the home was a total loss. According to Teague, the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.