VIDEOS: Large plumes of black smoke were seen over downtown Anchorage Thursday afternoon as a fire broke out at a vacant law office near Sixth Avenue and Ingra Street, an area that motorists were asked to avoid as the evening commute approached. All lanes of Sixth and Ingra were declared open just before 6:45 p.m. Flames could also be seen appearing from a building in that area around 2 p.m.
There were no known injuries or fatalities and no rescues required by firefighters as of publication time, according to an AFD spokesperson at the scene. A fire official at the scene said Ingra would be closed for at least an hour, starting at 3:45 p.m. The department said emergency response operations would be ongoing at the intersection until further notice and asked all motorists to avoid the area as the evening commute begins. The blaze was seen originating from a building belonging to an Anchorage law office.
The building was in the midst of a lengthy remodeling lasting four years, intended to ultimately become the Law Office of Jason Skala, whom Alaskaโs News Source spoke to. โMy first call was at 2:04 [p.m.] from 24/7 Towing โ a former client and friends of mine โ who said, โIโm sorry to tell your buildingโs on fire,โโ Skala said on the scene. Skala said he believes no one was in the building at the time, and was thankful there are no injuries or fatalities so far.
