Cedar Hills Fire 5:13 pm Nov. 29

5:13 pm Nov. 29, PALMER—Residents of the Cedar Hills subdivision, north of Palmer, evacuated earlier today as a grass fire moved in, threatening three to four homes on the subdivision’s north side as of this hour. Ripping winds gusting to 50 mph or more have pushed the fire southwest to Wickersham Circle, where the fire is burning near eight homes.

No homes have burned. Reportedly outbuildings and vehicles have caught fire.

Later residences along the roads of Beylund Loop, off Scott Road, and Josh Road off of Felton Street had been evacuated.

CEDAR HILLS SUBDIVISION

Access is restricted to firefighters and responders. More information will be coming tonight. Firefighters expect to contain the fire possibly by 8 pm. Updates will be posted. Only residents with ID will be allowed access.

No reports of looting are occurring.

FIRE SIZE

150 TO 200 ACRES CONSUMED

CLOSED ROADS DUE TO FIRE

Marsh Road

Pioneer Parkway

All entrances to Cedar Hills Subdivision

Palmer Fishhook Road at Glenn Highway and several blocks west on Palmer Fishhook

ValleyTrails subdivision has open access for now.

SCHOOL KIDS

The School District has called parents and is staying at Palmer schools with students until parents pick up their children.

SHELTER

The Red Cross has set up the Palmer Senior Center as a shelter for residents tonight at 1132 S. Chugach Street.

Some 40 residents are there now, according to Stephanie Bass with Red Cross. Local residents and businesses donated pizza, coffee. The Center cooked up muffins and shared chocolate with its guests.

Residents may end up sleeping at the nearby old senior center at 831 S. Chugach when cots arrive, Bass said.

Red Cross does not care for animals but will help facilitate.

Borough Animal Care Manager Carol Vardeman ran 9 crates over to the former Senior Center garage for pets that came along with evacuees. Three dogs are there so far. The Animal Care staff will deliver more kennels if necessary.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT

Earlier, a pickup hauling a trailer hit a softspot and overturned on Palmer Fishhook Road as it headed toward the Glenn Highway east on Palmer Fishhook Road. The wind reportedly knocked over the trailer.

No official cause and origin of the fire has been found. It is believed that the trailer may have generated a spark that caught in the grasslands. The high winds drove this fire into the Cedar Hills Subdivision earlier in the day.

WINDS

39 mph winds with gusts to 59 mph

FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Several entities are fighting the fire including MAT-SU responders from Butte, Central, and Chickaloon, Division of Forestry, Palmer City Fire, Chugiak Fire, and Anchorage is reportedly responding. One firefighter is reported injured.

Please check the Palmer City Website and facebook, Borough website and facebook. Call Palmer City hotline 761-1315.

Photo by Borough Emergency Manager Casey Cook.

—Pio Patty Sullivan