ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The acting fire chief in Bethel says it could take a week to search through the burned ruins of the community’s partially completed alcohol treatment center and determine if anyone was inside.
Acting Chief Bill Howell tells KTUU-TV there were a large amount of combustibles inside the 16,000-square foot building when it burned Monday night.
The structure was on pilings. Howell says the fire released a lot of heat and fire officials are acting cautiously.
The $12.5 million treatment center was almost completely engulfed when firefighters arrived. They fought the fire for nine hours.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The 16-bed center was scheduled to open next year.
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