Fire marshal investigates home fire

The Alaska fire marshal is investigating the cause and origin of the fire that burned down Darlene and Paul Fowler’s residence at Sunshine Road on Wednesday, January 27. John Bond out of the Palmer fire marshal’s office arrived at the scene on Thursday at 5 o’clock in the morning to begin the investigation. Responding fire fighters found eighty-one year old Darlene Fowler with a gunshot wound to her head in the burning house. She was medivaced to Providence Hospital in Anchorage, where she continues to be treated for the apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Her husband Paul was also in the house and was treated for smoke inhalation. The home is a total loss.
According to Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters, the troopers continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting and the fire. The involvement of the state’s fire marshal was triggered because of the woman’s injury.