FFD Press Release - 8/17/18 Fire at Costco

8/18/18 Press Release

MEDIA CONTACT: Teal Soden, City Communications Director, tsoden@fairbanks.us

SUBJECT: Structure Fire at 48 College Road (Costco Building)

For Immediate Release - Fairbanks, AK:

On Friday, August 17, a Fairbanks Police Officer was driving by and noticed black smoke coming out of the roof of the building currently being renovated by Costco at 48 College Road. The officer reported the situation to the Fairbanks Emergency Communication Center (FECC) and they dispatched Fairbanks Fire Department (FFD) at 10:06pm.

FFD crews arrived on scene at 10:14pm, along with mutual aid agencies University Fire Department and Ft. Wainwright Fire Department. Crews had the fire out in less than a half hour. The Bentley Trust Road was blocked off while fire crews handled the situation. The damage was limited to a 20 by 20 foot area on the roof of the building.

There were construction workers at the scene when the fire started, but they did not notice the fire until FFD personnel arrived. It was reported that some welding took place earlier in the day underneath the area where the fire started.

FECC received several additional calls for service for FFD before 10:40pm, including a structure fire and medical calls. Some personnel on scene at 48 College Road had to leave to respond to the other calls.

Fairbanks Fire Department will be handing the fire investigation. Anyone with any information about this incident should call Chief Styers at 450-6600.