Port Protection burns - Forums Archive

mydona

2011-02-20 23:27:10

From face book 13 hrs ago. For starters everyone is ok. The warehouse and generators are a total and 2nd story over the store and restaurant has sustained major damage. The fire did not get up the hill to the fuel tanks but was on it's way. Phone service is still working at this point but w/ the loss of the generators they are running on batteries.

Salty

2011-02-21 07:31:21

Wow, thanks, spent wonderful evening there last summer. Glad everyone is ok.

Carol W

2011-02-21 16:01:36

This is a true tragedy to the Sumner Strait fishery and area.

mydona

2011-02-21 17:00:04

The phones are now out and those that had WiFi are without too. The updates are coming from the starband users. The fish house, Ice machine, and office area are all ok but there is water damage to the store and contents, freezers, Hardware store, and restaurant from putting out the roof. The fuel is a gravity feed system which means that locals will still be able to get gas to run their private generators and have skiff fuel for transportation (there is no public power co-op so each house has to run their own gen-sets). Too early to say if Jack will be buying fish this summer but for now he can still buy and fly winter kings but w/o electricity the ice machine is out. This is going to hurt a lot of the Wrangell fleet and locals. Sounds like they were catching enough to pay expenses 2 wks ago.

mydona

2011-02-22 17:02:47

Salty saw your port Protection post in Sea Alaska fourm and thought to reply here. For now the F/V Rusty is tied up at the fuel dock in PPV and is running his freezer's gen-set for power to the phones. This makes it a hit and miss on the phones. The church in Thorne bay has asked the same question. Funny thing is that one of the ladies put in a request for toilet paper. I think it was 1/2 in jest but the store supplies got soaked. Most there order groceries bulk out of Wrangell, when they can find some coming out, or out of Ktn and fly them. This creates a logistics problem, getting things out there. I found a trustworthy web site run by a daughter (in Ktn) of a local out there. http://www.portprotectionalaska.org/ Might have to copy/paste it to the address page. I'll also be calling people in Wangell to see if they have started anything. I'll keep you post as I get it

Salty

2011-02-22 21:34:41

Thanks mydona. Spent a lot of hours in Port Protection when I was growing up and of course Buckshot ran the scow in Gedney also for many of those years. Will look forward to your updates.

Once and Future

2011-02-23 01:05:22

Hey Mydona: How about an address to send checks to? I'm not maintaining a Paypal account any more, and thus can't donate via that website link.

mydona

2011-02-23 16:49:29

This is the 2nd fire in about 25 years and both involved the store. My wife had worked at the store, for Jack, for 2 days before the fire consumed her job. As a matter of fact we were looking at the old store pictures about 3 weeks ago. Haven't talked to anybody in Wrangell yet about freighting supplies yet. If you want a place to send a check I'm thinking that directly to Jack Mason would be the surest way your money got where it's needed most.

Jack Mason

c/o fire relief fund

Box PPV

Ketchikan, AK. 99950

Thank you for you concerns

Carol W

2011-02-23 18:26:37

I just saw pictures on my facebook page of the destruction and knowing how old Jack is I am not sure if he can rebuild, this fire could have some pretty long range consequences for fishing in Sumner Strait and the community of Port Protection. Any help we can all give I am sure will be greatly appreciated.