Tuesday morning, Stebbins was the scene of a fire that destroyed the sole store in the village.
Lydia Raymond-Snowball, president of the Stebbins Community Association is the local tribal government. She stated that her daughter Gwen, who lives next to the ANICA Stebbins shop, told her about the fire around 6 a.m.
“Looking at this store, I mean that I grew up with the store all my life and so did almost everyone here. Raymond-Snowball stated that it was the only remaining store. “Now it’s gone.”
Raymond-Snowball stated that windows were damaged in a few homes located near the store. She expressed gratitude that it was not windy in Stebbins (a Yup’ik community with approximately 630 residents).
Raymond-Snowball stated that there was no wind and it was blowing towards the ocean when it caught wind.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy stated that the state’s emergency operation center is working with the village to coordinate a response. Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the emergency center, said that the store was the primary supplier of fuel to the village.
Zidek stated that although they don’t currently have electric fuel pumps, they can do gravity feed to still get fuel from the facility.
Zidek stated that between 60-70 homes lost power in the fire. However, officials from Alaska Village Electric Cooperative have restored most of these homes. According to Zidek, the store was insured and the community will use an old washroom as a temporary shop. He said that it is not yet known what caused the fire.
Raymond-Snowball stated late Tuesday afternoon, that while the fire had been put out, the store’s location is still smokey and only one wall remains. She expressed hope that goods can still be flown in from Unalakleet, the nearby hub village.
Stebbins lies 120 miles southwest of Nome across the Norton Sound. It was one of many Western Alaska villages that were flooded by remnants of Typhoon Merbok.
