Fire occurred at 0100 hours on Friday, August 13, 2004. The incident occurred at Ft. Wainwright Military Base, which is located adjacent to Fairbanks, Alaska.
The structure was a medical rescue hanger built in during WWII. It was a large steel frame structure. The building served as a station for the on-duty soldiers of the 68th Medical Company, which provides medical and rescue assistance for military and civilian operations. All of the Black Hawk MAST helicopters they use were pulled safely outside.
Sixty-five firefighters and support personnel from the following local departments provided assistance to the Ft. Wainwright Fire Department: University of Alaska Fire Department, the City of Fairbanks Fire Department, North Star Volunteer Fire Department, the City of North Pole Fire Department, Steese Area Volunteer Fire Department, and Chena Goldstream Volunteer Fire Department.
The local Red Cross Unit, staffed by husband and wife crew, Bill and Patti Shechter, were called out to provide assistance to the numerous fire departments that fought the Fire.
A Fairbanks firefighter received a minor injury and was treated and released at Fairbanks Memorial.
The fire was contained by 0530. The building was a complete loss, and a defensive firefighting operation was used.
