Fire destroys trailer, severely burns resident

A late night blaze destroyed a trailer and sent a woman to Wrangell Medical Center with severe burns on Thursday, Dec. 22.

The fire, which began at 10:30 p.m. in a small pull-behind trailer near the top of the park, severely injured 48-year-old Kathryn Bartels.

Thirty firefighters from the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department, with three fire engines, two ambulances, and three rescue rigs took part in the effort to battle the blaze.

According to Fire Marshal Bob Plumb of the Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety, the cause of the blaze, which has been narrowed down to either an unattended cigarette or other smoldering heat source, is still under investigation.

Plumb also added that Bartels was discovered unconscious by rescue personnel.

“When they found her she was just off the bed and sitting on the floor,” Plumb said. “She was unconscious before being brought out and she gasped for air once she was outside.”

A lack of forewarning was also a factor in the degree of the fire.

“There was no smoke detector in the residence,” Plumb added. “That makes a difference in that she might have been warned of the fire. It was a smoldering fire between the carpet and clothing that eventually led to a propane bottle exploding. That explosion was the fire alarm, which was not an effective one.”

Wrangell Police Chief Doug McCloskey added that his department is currently investigating certain circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire.