Family Suffers Hunting Accident and Wildfire on Same Weekend – KHNS Radio

A major fire in Haines destroyed several businesses and homes over the weekend. No one was injured, but the devastating fire was a double blow for a local family.

To say the Ward Family of Haines had a bad week is an understatement.

On Friday, Michael Ward Junior, also known as Mike T, fell while hunting goats with a camera crew. His father, Michael Ward Sr. (Mike), described the accident.

“There was a rock that came loose,” Mike Sr. said. “He ended up falling quite a bit down the mountain and became unconscious. And they had real concerns about him.”

After Mike T’s difficult situation left him stuck on a mountain for most of the day, he was finally rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and taken to Anchorage for medical treatment. Mike Sr. says his son has been released and is doing well. That was Friday evening.

Within hours, Mike Senior’s commercial building, which contained four stores and four apartments, burned to the ground. The Quick Shop supermarket as well as Outfitter Liquor, Outfitter Sporting Goods, Mike’s Bikes & Boards and four apartments are a total loss.

Haines Police Chief Josh Dryden said his department received the first report of the fire Saturday around 9:30 p.m. Both the Haines Fire Department and the The Klehini Valley Volunteer Fire Department battled the fire. Dryden, who has been on the force for nearly nine years, says it is the largest fire he has seen in Haines. He says teams were still working on hotspots at lunchtime the next day.

Mike Senior’s Facebook profile picture showed him standing in front of the rubble on Sunday. The day before, eight Haines residents were employed at the site.

“I feel like Quick Shop is like one of my children,” Mike Sr. said. “In fact, I started Quick Shop before I started having kids. So yeah, I definitely invested a lot of my life there. And the community goes there a lot. And the people who go there – our customers really appreciate it. And there is definitely a bond between the employees and the customers. And we were there and open every day to this day.”

A police notice sent out Sunday afternoon reminded residents that Quick Shop is an active accident scene and they are not allowed to enter the property as doing so will result in criminal prosecution.

Haines Police Officer Michael Fullerton was off duty Saturday but arrived to assist with the fire.

He told local newspaper Chilkat Valley News: “We will investigate this fire until we are satisfied that it is a normal fire. Until we are certain of it.”

It is believed the fire started in one of the upstairs apartments.

The state fire marshal arrived Monday and will work with Fullerton, who has training in arson investigations.

At the time of this story, a GoFundMe fundraiser hosted by Kenneth Ashbrook had raised nearly $5,000 for the evicted tenants.

Matt Jones is a volunteer police and fire chaplain. He says residents left homeless by the fire are encouraged to open a bank account for direct donations. Donations in kind are discouraged because survivors do not yet know where they will live or what they need.

There is an exception Deliveries for a one year old. Prescribed formula diapers and 12-month-old clothing can be dropped off at Port Chilkoot Bible Church.

Mike Sr. is grateful for the community’s response. He plans his next steps, which are to contact his insurance company and find out the inventory.

“I just want to thank the community for the support and we will get back in business as soon as possible,” he said. “And I’m glad no one got hurt.”

After providing free meals Saturday, Alpenglow Wood Fired Pizza began accepting donations to help feed fire victims.