Multiple piles of commercial fishing net caught fire Saturday evening near the Unalaska spit dock, resulting in a significant amount of damage.

The fire started around 8pm at the Pacific Stevedoring storage area, and the Unalaska Fire Department was able to contain and extinguish the fire within an hour. No injuries were reported, but fishing vessels that keep their gear on the property could suffer substantial financial losses. Net bundles in storage spaces used by the Northern Jaeger and Ocean Rover were totally destroyed.

“We’re looking at four yellowfin nets, at least three mid-waters which are over $100,000 each, and two bottom nets. You’re looking at minimum $700,000,” said a bystander involved with the fishing industry. 

Over a dozen firefighters responded to the emergency, and volunteers from PacSteve provided some assistance. While the fire was not unusually large, firefighters say that a quick response was critical because the wind was blowing up to 55mph and the material they were dealing with was especially flammable. 

“Once trawl nets start burning, it’s basically raw petroleum,” said Roger Deffendall,  a fire captain with the Unalaska Department of Public Safety. “There was quite a bit of money out here on fire.”

The cause of the fire is still unknown.