A late night fire ravaged the Eagle River Valley home of Jeffery Bowden Nov. 3, causing an estimated $300,000 in damages.

Firefighters from Anchorage Fire Department Station 11 in Eagle River were first on the scene at 11:50 p.m. followed by 12 additional fire department apparatus and two tender trucks from the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department, according to department spokeswoman Bridget Bushue.

"Because of its remote location fire crews from six different Anchorage fire stations were dispatched to the blaze," she said. "And Chugiak was called in to assist with supplying water. We wanted to make sure the efforts of the firefighters were not delayed while they waited for water."

The blaze was particularly challenging to fight, Bushue said, because the home was hard to access and water had to be pumped nearly 1,000 feet uphill.

"Water was drafted from nearby Eagle River to supply portable tank operations," Bushue said. "It was then pumped to the house."

It took firefighters an hour and half to bring the blaze under control, but multiple crews remained on scene until after 4 a.m. watching for any flare-ups.

With damages estimated at more than three-quarters the municipal appraised value of the home, it is believed to be a total loss, according to Bushue.

"Right now our initial observations point to the point of origin being in the area of a wood stove," Bushue said. "We'll know more after the fire inspector surveys the sight."

Firefighters from Anchorage stations 1 on Third Avenue, 3 at Airport Heights, 4 on Tudor Road, 6 off Muldoon Road and 14 at Baxter and Tudor also responded.

Anchorage Assemblyman Bill Starr, who represents Eagle River, stopped by the scene after attending a meeting of the Assembly.

"Based on the response, with at least nine fire trucks when I was there, I wonder if we need to debate for expanded resources such as fire trucks and water in Eagle River Valley?" he said.

Almost a year ago Valley residents living outside the Anchorage Fire Service area, pushed to get a ballot measure included on the April 7 municipal election ballot that would extend the area to their homes. But the effort stalled before it could be put before voters.

The Anchorage Fire Service area boundary is at Mile 5.5 of Eagle River Road, and all properties beyond the boundary are outside the fire service area.

"A good point of reference would be the AT&T satellite dishes," Starr said.

Starr said he is not saying Bowden's home would have been spared if there had been a closer fire station, but "there would have been a better chance with a local station."

Residents cited the difficulty in securing fire insurance and the slow response times to fires in the upper valley, beyond the Anchorage Fire Service area, as their reasons for wanting a fire station or some enhanced service from the fire department.

It took firefighters a little more than 20 minutes to arrive at the scene Nov. 3.

"The call was received at dispatch, and the alarm sounded at 11:29 p.m.," Bushue said. "The first truck arrived at the home at 11:50 p.m."

The typical response time for fire calls within a fire service area is 7 minutes.

City code prioritizes fire response: first, buildings within the service area; second, areas that voluntarily contribute, such as those served by the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department; and third, structures outside of the service area.

"We're not going to sit in the firehouse and not respond to a call just because it is in Eagle River Valley, outside our fire service area," fire department spokeswoman Jennifer Collins said after a May 25 fire in the Valley. "If there is a fire and the apparatus are not needed somewhere else in the fire service area, we'll respond."

There were no other AFD calls for assistance at the time of the fire Nov. 3.

Unlike homes within the service area, homeowners living beyond the boundary can be billed for the firefighting service. The billing structure set forth in municipal code, states the owner of the property will be charged $500 for each firefighting vehicle used in extinguishing a blaze, plus an additional charge of $75 an hour for time on scene beyond the first hour.

Bowden could face a bill greater than $6,000, if the fire department decides to charge him. The Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department does not charge for assisting with fires.