A report of a boxcar on fire at the end of an airstrip on Petersville Road in Trapper Creek went in to the Alaska State Troopers and officers responded at 2:35 pm on Thanksgiving Day.

The troopers responded without fire personnel because the fire was outside of the location’s fire service area. When troopers arrived at 3:10 pm, the boxcar was still burning as they conducted a check of the burning boxcar and the surrounding area.

Troopers returned to the area of the fire the next day at noon. By then, the boxcar was reduced to ashes. An investigation of the burned-out structure was carried out. With the help of Trapper Creek EMS personnel, the troopers located possible human remains in the ashes.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene upon being notified and the State Examiner’s office was also contacted.

Although it was not conclusive that the remains found at the scene were in fact human, the person known to occupy the structure is currently unaccounted for. Troopers are awaiting the results from the Medical Examiner’s office as to what was actually recovered and potential positive identification before releasing the name of the individual residing in the boxcar.

The unaccounted for individual’s family has been notified.

The cause and origin of the fire has not yet been determined.