Many Attend After-Fire Meeting

The Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team hosted an After the Fire Community Open House at the Willow Community Center from 4-8 pm June 23. There were multiple agencies and organizations on site to assist residents affected by the Sockeye Fire.

To contact the State of Alaska Individual Assistance Hotline, call 1-855-445-7131.

The agencies represented were The American Red Cross, the State of Alaska Disaster Assistance, State of Alaska DNR/Department of Forestry, the fuel company Amerigas, Firewise, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Servpro, Willow Dog Mushers, Willow Community Food Pantry, The United Way, The Salvation Army, the State of Alaska Division of Insurance, and The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. Many residents attended. Most of the questions had to do with financial assistance, clean-up or property tax assessment values.

Fire Tax Relief Form due Aug. 14

The Mat-Su Borough has a form posted here for your property to be re-assessed if you have suffered fire damage. The form is due Aug. 14. Call the Assessment Department at 861-8642 to get one mailed to you if you cannot download the form here.

Fire Debris

If you have insurance coverage, check with your insurance company to determine whether debris removal is covered. If covered, you may hire a contractor with a dump truck and an excavator to remove debris.

Fire debris can be hauled to the Willow Transfer Site. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough will waive fees for fire debris. Willow Transfer Site, 861-7615, 15469 N Willow Station Road. The Willow Transfer site is open seven days a week now, 9am to 5 pm. For loads larger than a pickup, haul the debris to the Central Landfill near Palmer.

On many properties, metal is the bulk of the remaining debris. Two businesses have offered clean up assistance and scrap metal removal at no charge, AK Car Crushing and Recycling at 357-5865 and Schnitzer 349-4833.

Private fire debris should not be dumped in the road right of way. Please haul the debris to the Willow Transfer Station or the Central Landfill.