PHOTO: A fire destroyed Tuluksak’s only source of clean, running water on Saturday and an emergency delivery of freshwater is delayed because of weather conditions.
Donated bottled water is ready to be shipped out on the next plane from Bethel, but Tuluksak’s runway has been unusable because of snow. The man who usually plows it is in Anchorage being treated for COVID-19.
Tribal Council Secretary Kristy Napoka lives right next door to her job at the water plant in Tuluksak, which is how she knew it was on fire.
“The smoke was starting to get in through the windows and through the vents,” she said.
She watched as her husband went to put out the fire.
“When I looked out the window, my husband and a few other men were trying to get into the water plant and washeteria. They had to break the door, but they were a little too late.