Man dies in early-morning cabin fire near Willow

A fire at a Parks Highway cabin between Willow and Houston early Monday morning left one man dead and forced Alaska State Troopers to restrict traffic on the highway around Mile 62 for several hours, according to authorities. A neighbor woke up at 2:30 a.m. to the sound of crackling, found flames shooting out of a nearby rental cabin and called troopers, said Beth Ipsen, troopers spokeswoman. Troopers closed the highway shortly after, but all lanes are open again, she said. The neighbor tried to get in the 20-by-40-foot cabin, but the flames were too intense, she said. The victim was found on the first floor of the cabin, which has a bedroom on a loft, she said. Troopers said they have not identified the man killed in the fire. Dennis Brodigan, Mat-Su Borough emergency services director, confirmed that the victim was male. Troopers closed the highway after firefighters found two 300-gallon fuel tanks near the cabin and received reports of ammunition in the cabin, she said. The cause of the fire is not yet known; state fire marshals are investigating, Ipsen said. Jeremy Woodrow, Department of Transportation spokesman, said troopers asked for gravel trucks to help deal with the ice buildup on the highway from water needed to put out the fire. Two dogs and a goat were tied to the cabin, but the fire burned their ropes, freeing the animals, Ipsen said. Troopers caught the dogs, and firefighters along with animal control chased and captured the goat, she said. She said there may have been cats in the cabin, but troopers don't know how many or if any were hurt. Ipsen said fire marshals haven't found dead animals in the cabin. West Lakes and Houston fire departments responded to the fire, she said. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY. Reach Benjamin Brasch at bbrasch@adn.com or 257-4349. Twitter: twitter.com/ben_brasch Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/12/23/3243815/early-morning-cabin-fire-in-mat.html#emlnl=Breaking_News#storylink=cpy