Deadly jail fire leaves Alaskan village mourning

(KTUU) The small village of Napakiak, Alaska is in shock after a fire claimed the lives of two people locked inside of the local jail.

The victims have been identified as Becca White, 24, and Isaiah Parka, 22, both of Napakiak, who were both being held for operating an ATV while intoxicated.

Leaders from the local tribe and village officials expressed grief over the loss to the community of Napakiak, but declined to comment pending the results of an investigation by the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Throughout the community, there are still many unanswered questions about what exactly happened to cause the jail burned to the ground.

Napakiak resident Jonathan Nelson, who lives next to the jail, was one of the first to realize something was wrong.

“I heard screaming and went to confront two people in the street,” Nelson said. “One person turned around and he was all burnt and black, then his partner said ‘There are people inside,’ so I ran to the door.”

Nelson tried breaking into multiple jail doors with his shoulder and an ax before using his now-melted chainsaw to cut an entrance.

When he opened the door, he was met with smoke and flames.

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