Talkeetna and Willow Fire Depts save Caswell home

Sunshine and Willow Fire departments responded to a fire call Sunday night in Caswell Lakes area.

Eric Denkewalter was the incident commander-in-charge in the temporary absence of fire chief Ken Farina. He says the incident had a happy ending as firefighters saved the house as well as a woodshed and outbuilding.  The garage-mechanics shop burned, however, and Denkewalter said it appeared that a few high cost items were lost to the fire.

He said there was rapid response by both fire departments.  The location of the residence, about 4 miles off the highway, made it difficult to have excellent radio communications and there was a slight confusion in the response.

Caswell Lakes voted on their own fire service area last year.  With that vote comes an automatic mutual aid from both Willow and Talkeetna.  It is very likely the entire residence might have been lost to the fire had it not been for that decision by Caswell residents last year.  Caswell now has a board of supervisors and a number of volunteer fire fighters.  They are awaiting the funding for a building and fire equipment.  Denkewalter says they also hope to get another repeater in the Caswell area to improve radio reception.