One Dead, Three Injured in Uyak Bay’s Spirit of Alaska Wilderness Lodge Fire

Responders assess a fire at the Park's Cannery near Uyak Bay on Kodiak Island, Alaska, June 2, 2016. The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to assist with rescue efforts. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Responders assess a fire at the Park’s Cannery near Uyak Bay on Kodiak Island, Alaska, June 2, 2016. The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to assist with rescue efforts. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Three people were injured and one perished in a fire at the Spirit of Alaska Lodge at the old “Parks Cannery,” on the west side of Kodiak Island on Thursday.

A MayDay was broadcast on VHF channel 16 from the old cannery in Uyak Bay at approximately 4 am Thursday morning reporting the fire, and the Mayor of Larsen Bay relayed the information to the U.S. Coast Guard as multiple vessels from nearby community responded to the scene. One, the F/V Alaskan, brought a paramedic from the community and it was reported that another, the F/V Norquist, transported the three injured victims to Larsen Bay to await transport to Kodiak.

Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel transfer patients from an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to an ambulance in Kodiak. Image-USCG
Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel transfer patients from an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to an ambulance in Kodiak. Image-USCG

A USCG MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter arrived at Larsen Bay and transported the injured to Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center in Kodiak around 7 am this morning.

One person, still unidentified by authorities, died in the fire that burned through the bunkhouse and the winter watchman residence area of the old cannery complex.

Weather hampered the efforts of the Alaska Wildlife Trooper Patrol Vessel Cama’i as it workedf to respond to the scene with Alaska State Troopers and investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s office.

“The Coast Guard offers its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” said Cmdr. James Binniker, Sector Anchorage command duty officer. “Coast Guard aircrews were able to work with our Alaska State Trooper partners to consolidate information and plan response efforts to rescue three people and transport them to a medical facility.  We also thank the crew of the Alaskan for their assistance with this response.”

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The fire was reported extinguished before noon.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]