ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The owner of a popular restaurant on the Homer boardwalk recounted his escape from a fire that damaged much of the apartment located above his business.
Shane McVeigh, the owner and operator of Boardwalk Fish and Chips, told Alaska’s News Source that he and a friend were barbecuing at the business before the fire began on Wednesday.
“It was actually the day of the week that we’re closed,” he said.
“We weren’t even open for business.”
According to McVeigh, his friend was cleaning inside the restaurant, and he was in his apartment when the fire started.
“The grill was on low, and all of a sudden, I see this smoke through the window.” he said.
“I think whatever was in the insulation or the wall there just caught really fast.”
McVey said that his friend was able to escape through the restaurant’s exit, while he attempted to put the fire out.
“We tried throwing water, but it was too far gone at that point,” he said.
“I tried to shut the gas line off. I was fumbling because of adrenaline. You’re just racing and I couldn’t get my wrench to work.”
McVeigh said it was at that moment he realized his cat was still in his upstairs apartment, and he jumped into action.
However, once inside the apartment, McVeigh said he realized just how quickly the fire had spread.
“I went back up on the roof because I knew that entranceway was blocked,” he said.
“By the time I got up there, I would have very badly burned myself going through the normal door.”
According to McVeigh, he broke two glass windows open and threw his cat onto the roof of the restaurant a few feet below before climbing out himself.
Aside from several cuts on his leg from the glass, McVeigh said he, his friend, and the cat were unharmed.
“I could have taken 5-10 more seconds and definitely taken a better job to clean out that window, but obviously in the stress of the moment you’re not thinking clearly, so I did lacerate myself pretty good on the window.”
Firefighters arrived and put out the blaze. The next day, McVeigh was able to take a look at the damages to his building.
“[I] actually was pleasantly surprised at how intact the actual business is,” he said.
“Entirely what burned up was my upstairs apartment where I just lived personally.”
McVeigh said that Boardwalk Fish and Chips will be closed for the rest of the season, as repairs are made to his apartment.
He said that the remaining fish in the restaurant will be donated to a local food bank, something he does regularly.
“When the tourist season ends and we got stuff left over, why not, give it to the people that need it?”
In the days since the fire, McVeigh said the Homer community has rallied around him in support.
“Lots of people just being friendly, offering me somewhere to stay, offering me food, offering me clothes, just a good support system,” he said.
McVeigh said that he’ll be spending the next few months refurbishing and upgrading the restaurant and is optimistic that Boardwalk Fish and Chips will be open for next season.
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