University Fire Department responds to fire at Princess Riverside Lodge

June 14, 2019

On Thursday, June 13, at approximately 8:30 p.m. the University Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge on Pikes Landing Road in Fairbanks. Firefighters arrived to find a fire located in the hotel’s kitchen area that had extended into the floor and began burning in the wooden support structure. Firefighters made an aggressive attack and were able to keep the fire from further extending into other parts of the building.

About 500 to 600 guests and staff members were evacuated from the structure as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The University Fire Department commends the staff members and guests at the hotel for their quick and orderly evacuation. Princess arranged for the off-site transportation of all guests.

No injuries were reported. The UFD fire marshal and the Alaska State Fire Marshal’s office are investigating the cause and origin of the fire. Emergency activities at the hotel have concluded, and Princess is working on a plan to admit guests back into the hotel.

Multiple local organizations assisted with the response to this incident, including the Fairbanks Fire Department, Fort Wainwright Fire Department, Chena Goldstream Fire and Rescue, Ester Volunteer Fire Department, Steese Volunteer Fire Department, North Star Volunteer Fire Department, North Pole Fire Department, Eielson Air Force Base Fire Department, Fairbanks North Star Borough Hazardous Materials Response Team, Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations, Airport Police and Fire, Alaska State Troopers, American Red Cross, and Golden Valley Electric Association. A total of 78 responders supported this incident with seven engines, four ambulances, three ladder trucks and three police units as well as support vehicles and equipment from the borough and Red Cross.

MEDIA CONTACT: Fire Chief Doug Schrage, 907-474-5770, drschrage@alaska.edu.