One Dead, Three Injured in Fire At Alaskan Senior Housing Complex

ANCHORAGE, Ala (AP) -- One person died and three others were hurt in a fire that broke out early Friday in a senior housing apartment Dillingham.

The fire erupted shortly after midnight in the east wing of the 15- unit Herman Schroeder senior housing facility, said Dave McClure, executive director of Bristol Bay Housing Authority, which operates the complex.

Seven units were destroyed by fire or smoke, according to McClure. The blaze was put out by volunteer fire fighters about 7 a.m., he said.

Officials were helping displaced residents find new housing, McClure said.

The names of the dead or injured were not released, but McClure said the victim was visiting one of the residents. The injured were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation, McClure said. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Alaska State Troopers said a deputy state fire marshal flew to Dillingham from Anchorage to investigate the fire.

The fire apparently was caused by a ''slow smoldering fire source'' in the vicinity of the victim's bed, troopers said. The victim and others in the unit were known smokers, troopers said.

The smoke alarm in the unit had been disconnected, according to troopers.