55 Homes Destroyed in Sockeye Fire

A Borough team of damage assessors completed its assessment of 337 properties. Their findings: 55 homes were destroyed in the Sockeye Fire. An additional 44 properties had major damage to outbuildings but the homes are untouched by fire. The team of three worked 13-hour days recently to learn the extent of damage from the now 7,220-acre fire.

A more detailed account of their findings is as follows:

1. 55 homes were destroyed (no distinction yet if a weekend cabin or a primary home)
2. an additional 44 properties had major damage to outbuildings but homes are untouched by fire. Outbuildings include sheds, greenhouses, outhouses.
3. 238 additional properties are in the fire zone and the structures are not burned
4. 337 properties were assessed
5. some remote properties were not reached
6. a Borough team of three did the damage assessments over three, 13-hour days

The assessment range included:

Farthest north: Ringler Circle

Farthest east: 2 miles east of the Parks Highway

Farthest west: Susitna River

Farthest south: Crystal Lake Drive and north of W. Lakeshore Circle

This week another team of Borough, State, and FEMA representatives will assess damage.

The Borough does not yet have a figure for the value of the loss.

For the latest fire information go to this link with the Fire Incident Management Team http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4288/

 The Fire is 90 percent contained, according to the Sockeye Fire incident team.

For more information on damage assessment call PIO Patty Sullivan at 861-8577 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo by Stefan Hinman, Mat-Su Borough.

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