 by Dick Kauffman September 15, 2002
 A PRVFD fire truck and water tanker were parked near the buildings used for the fire fighting drills. The buildings burned included two small travel trailers and one large trailer which were parked on the lot. The buildings had not been lived in for some time. The trailers were old and in need or repairs. The Anchorage owner had requested Pond Reef to burn the trailers and the lot is to be put up for sale.  Twelve members of the Pond Reef Volunteer Fire Department - including 5 new volunteer members - participated in the fire fighting training drills. With the crew dressed in fire gear and with the hoses hooked up to the tanker, the drill began with small fires being set in the bedrooms of the large trailer. The crew successfully extinguished these small fires. Larger practice fires were also set and extinguished successfully. The fire was allowed to engulf the buildings while the crew monitored and contained the blaze. The fire fighting training drills lasted approximately 4 hours.  Previous reports indicated that on July 27, 2002, the Alaska State Troopers discovered what was believed to be a portable methamphetamine lab at this Huddle Road property. The lab was discovered during the follow up of a reported burglary. The makeshift lab, along with several grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine was seized on that date. According to Pond Reef Fire Chief Darrell Thomas, the Anchorage owner of the property said the trailer was supposed to be empty and had not been rented to anyone. Thomas said the Alaska State Troopers completed their investigation of the methamphetamine bust on August 15th and released the trailers to Pond Reef for burning two weeks ago. Chief Thomas said PRVFD has another fire training session scheduled in the South Point Higgins area in the next few weeks. An owner of a home in that area has asked that a building be burned down.
Photos by Dick Kauffman
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