A firefighter tries to contain a flareup in a house fire on Aspen Avenue on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A firefighter tries to contain a flareup in a house fire on Aspen Avenue on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

One person killed, one hospitalized in early-morning house fire in Mendenhall Valley

Home considered a total loss, family left without possessions as fire ignites while they’re sleeping.

This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Brayan Vieyra’s name.

One person was killed and another hospitalized with severe burns in a fire that left a family homeless in the Mendenhall Valley early Saturday morning, according to officials and a member of the family.

The fire started at about 4 a.m. at a house in the 8200 block of Aspen Avenue, with the cause still under investigation, according to Capital City Fire/Rescue. One of the occupants, Elizabeth Martinez Ruiz, said in an interview Monday four of her family members were asleep, and she was at work and one other family member living there was away when the fire started.

The home was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived on scene and the structure is considered a total loss, according to CCFR. Ruiz’s husband of 14 years, Brayan Vieyra, was unable to escape the house while a cousin of hers was medevaced to Anchorage with severe burns, but she said the cousin is now in stable condition.

“During the search and suppression efforts, an individual was found outside the structure with severe burns to their upper body,” a notice posted on CCFR’s Facebook page on Saturday. “The male victim was immediately transported by ambulance to Bartlett Regional Hospital and later medevaced out of town for specialized burn treatment.”

“While crews continued to fight the blaze and search for other potential victims, a second individual was located inside the residence. Tragically, this person was pronounced deceased at the scene by fire department personnel. Further investigation revealed a deceased dog inside the home, as well as a minor injury sustained by one additional occupant. He departed the scene without medical treatment.”

A firefighter carries a hose toward a Mendenhall Valley house still experiencing flareups hours after a fire started early Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A firefighter carries a hose toward a Mendenhall Valley house still experiencing flareups hours after a fire started early Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An initial post on CCFR’s Facebook page at about 4:30 a.m. stated the fire had been knocked down. However, additional firefighters were called back to the scene at about 8 a.m. due to ongoing flareups in the house.

“This fire taxed Juneau’s resources with all on duty personnel and available firefighters conducting firefighting operations, providing emergency medical care and responding to additional calls for EMS,” the fire department’s updated notice states.

An oil leak from the home’s heating system discovered by emergency responders was reported to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Spill Response Team.

A GoFundMe set up on behalf of Ruiz and her family has raised more than $29,000 was raised as of early Tuesday morning. Ruiz said she plans to use some of the money to bring her husband’s remains to Mexico, where he was born and has family, while some will be used to help with her cousin’s medical bills.

Ruiz said she plans to return to Juneau after her husband’s funeral and, while many people have donated items such as clothing and food, one of the major challenges she will face is finding a new place to live.

“I can’t describe the feeling of losing my husband, losing everything completely, everything we had, that we built,” she said. “It is just really hard the whole thing. And I am so, so thankful for everybody trying to help out and bringing whatever they can bring.”

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.

A fire burns at a home on Aspen Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley early Saturday morning. (Capital City Fire / Rescue photo)

A fire burns at a home on Aspen Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley early Saturday morning. (Capital City Fire / Rescue photo)

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Two flags with pro-life themes, including the lower one added this week to one that’s been up for more than a year, fly along with the U.S. and Alaska state flags at the Governor’s House on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Doublespeak: Dunleavy adds second flag proclaiming pro-life allegiance at Governor’s House

First flag that’s been up for more than a year joined by second, more declarative banner.

Students play trumpets at the first annual Jazz Fest in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Fortier)
Join the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest to beat the winter blues

Four-day music festival brings education of students and Southeast community together.

Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy and Randy Ruaro, executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, are standing behind RIchards. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
For fourth consecutive year, gas pipeline boss is Alaska’s top-paid public executive

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, had the highest compensation among state legislators after all got pay hike.

Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Flood district plan charging property owners nearly $6,300 each gets unanimous OK from Assembly

117 objections filed for 466 properties in Mendenhall Valley deemed vulnerable to glacial floods.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney gives the State of the University address in Juneau on Jan. 30, 2025. She highlighted the wide variety of educational and vocational programs as creating opportunities for students, and for industries to invest in workforce development and the future of Alaska’s economy. (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
University of Alaska president highlights impact on workforce, research and economy in address

Pat Pitney also warns “headwinds” are coming with federal executive orders and potential budget cuts.

Most Read