Cabin Cruiser Fire    6-23-04

Motor Home Fire    1-25-04

Park Avenue Fire     3-19-04

Super Chief Position     1-15-04

At the Thursday Ketchikan City Council meeting (1-15-04), the Council approved an administrative position which will combine the duties of the fire chief and the police chief. The Council stipulated that the city staff shall review the success of the new position after one year.

The Council voted unanimously to move ahead with the new Public Safety Director position, according to City Manager Karl Amylon. Effective Saturday, January 31st, Fire Chief Rich Leipfert will be hired for the new position.

Ketchikan Fire Department was dispatched to a motor home fire on Sunday, January 25, 2004.

The fire caused extensive damage to the unoccupied motor home. A boat parked next to the motor home suffered damage as well. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

Park Avenue Fire:  Woman Rescued by KFD
Incident date: Friday, March 19, 2004
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A fire that closed Park Avenue to vehicle traffic for about 45 minutes was extinguished by about 1:10 p.m. According to Public Safety Director Rich Leipfert, the fire department received the report of a fire at 933 Park Ave. at about 12:45 p.m. Friday.

Ketchikan Fire Department firefighters rescued a a 42-year-old woman from the burning house on Park Avenue who was recovering from smoke inhalation. “Significant smoke” was coming from the building and according to firefighters who arrived on scene and they were told someone was inside.

The firefighters used a thermal imager to find the unconscious woman carried her from the house. The KFD treated the woman on scene for smoke inhalation and then transported her to Ketchikan General Hospital. The woman has not yet been identified.

Listen to follow up story at KRBD, 105.9 FM — Aired May 14, 2004

 

Cabin Cruiser Fire
Incident date: Wednesday, June 23, 2004
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Minimal damage was the result of quick thinking on the part of an employee of Petro Marine Services Marina. Fumes from the engine compartment ignited, exploded, and caught fire when the boat was started. The cabin cruiser had taken on about 100 gallons of fuel at the marina around 2:30 p.m. Witnesses said the explosion “sounded like a sonic boom.”

The Ketchikan Fire Department responded at 2:33 p.m. and found the fire extinguished. According to Assistant Fire Chief Jim Hill, the boat’s engine compartment was not vented enough before the ignition was turned on.