(Photos by Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
A fire on Oct. 5 burned four businesses and apartments in a building owned by Mike Ward. As community members banded together to help the people who suddenly lost their homes, Ward has been working to shift operations of the Quick Shop and its neighboring liquor store and outdoor gear shops to his other stores in town.
Top: Four businesses and four apartments in a building owned by Mike Ward burn on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Haines Alaska. It’s not yet clear exactly how the fire started but Ward and others on the scene said it appeared to have been set in one of the apartments.
Second row: Members of the Haines Volunteer Fire Department work to contain the fire. They were joined by volunteers from the Klehini Valley Fire Department from the upper Chilkat Valley. Dozens of community members watched the blaze and Haines Borough police officer Michael Fullerton helps with crowd control.
Third row: Haines Police’s Michael Fullerton listens to Mike Ward as the two watch four of Ward’s stores burn down.
Fourth row: Firefighters work to control the fire.
Bottom images: Sam Remeto looks at her soot-covered hands as she digs through the remains of her apartment on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Haines, Alaska. Remeto, her husband and 11-month-old baby were home when the fire started and ultimately consumed the entire building over the weekend. Crows and other wildlife have been picking through the rubble in the days since building was destroyed.
The Haines middle school cross country running team capped off their season on Oct. 4 with a Zombie Run at the Southeast Alaska State Fairgrounds. The kids strapped flag-football-style belts around their waists and tried to protect their flags from costumed adults chased them through the woods.
Top: Canaan Larson runs into bushes to avoid Sarah Elliott during a zombie run.
Second row: Olivia Marten and Mackenzie Wright run away from zombies the opening lap of the run.
Third row: McKenna Dryden runs from Sarah Elliott and Brian Elliot, in a Night King mask from Game of Thrones, waits in the woods to scare runners.
Bottom image: Sarah Elliott grabs Lucas Dewitt and Axel Stickler during the Haines middle school cross country end-of-season race.
Top: The view looking toward Mount Princep on Sept. 29.
Bottom: Nataga Creek near Mosquito Lake and Mosquito Lake on September 29, in the Chilkat Valley.