Former Home Of Jo & Greg Boyd Near Pipeline Burns To The Ground Across From Gulkana Village

 HOUSE FIRE  

Current Owners Reportedly Were Not At Home

House Was Destroyed  

Initial Rumors From Worried People In Glennallen Were Incorrect. 
 Originally Thought Three Homes In Gulkana Village Were On Fire 

MARCH 5TH, 2025 

Gakona Fire Department truck. (Photo, Country Journal, August 2024) 

A raging house fire across the Richardson from Gulkana Village, at the home that once belonged to Jo and Greg Boyd, left the place engulfed in flames and unable to save. 

Rumors began immediately when the fire broke out. But rumors of the fire's location and number of homes involved were first erroneous – with fears that three Gulkana houses were ablaze all at once. Then there were additional rumors –  that this was a single-home blaze, and that it was at the Boyds'. 

Greg Boyd died several years ago. After his death the house was sold. 

That day – and in the two days that followed – there has been no report of a fire near Gakona Junction and Gulkana Village on the official State Trooper Dispatch site. 

Checking whether any of the rumors were true, the Journal contacted Tim DeSpain, of the Trooper Communications Department, on Tuesday. 

He said they knew nothing of a fire near Gulkana – or Trooper response.  He added that the State Fire Marshal had not heard there had been a fire in the area. See his comment below. 

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Trooper Communications Dept wrote the Journal on Tuesday, March 4th:

I checked with the state fire marshal's office and they were not made aware of a fire recently in that area. I'm not aware that troopers responded to a fire either. If I learn anything about it I'll get back to you. 

--TIM DESPAIN, ALASKA STATE TROOPERS 

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On Wednesday morning, a knowledgeable community member confirmed the fire was at the Boyd's  – and expressed concern for the family and the safety of responders, providing the following information to the Journal: 

Wednesday, March 5th. (Unofficial) Local Report: 

"...There was a fire locally on Monday, first spotted mid to late morning.

"By the time the smoke was observed, Greg and Jo Boyd's house was fully engulfed and no one was able to do anything about it. Even private individuals who rushed to the scene ahead of the Gakona VFD to try to help were unable to do much of anything. 

"...The new family that now owns the property and lives there were not at home and so to the best of my knowledge, no one was injured. Not sure how the first responders and Troopers fared, as it is dangerous business, but hopefully no one was injured. 

"Lots of folks are ready and willing to help the family, but at this early date, nothing has been started to my knowledge."

--CITIZEN REPORT 

The fire chief and spokesman of the Gakona Volunteer Fire Department, Jason Severs, is reported to be out of the region, working the Iditarod.