A fire at an East Anchorage apartment building Tuesday night temporarily displaced numerous residents from 28 units, according to the fire department.
Firefighters were called to the Salamatof Heights building on Centennial Circle just after 8 p.m., Assistant Fire Chief Alex Boyd said Wednesday. The building is owned by Cook Inlet Housing Authority and houses people who are over 62 years old or are disabled.
Investigators believe the fire may have been caused by a cigarette that was thrown into an exterior planter, Boyd said.
The fire was isolated to the outside of the building near the electrical meters and controlled within about 15 minutes, he said. Firefighters also helped evacuate people.
Three residents were evaluated for minor smoke exposure and one of them was taken to the hospital for further evaluation, Boyd said. Some of the electric meters were damaged and power was cut to the building, so residents were temporarily displaced until it could be restored, he said.
The American Red Cross of Alaska and Cook Inlet Housing found shelter Tuesday night for displaced residents, he said.
The building also had damage to the exterior wall, minor fire and water damage to the interior wall near the fire and minor smoke contamination, Boyd said.