A fire in the Alaska Native village of Hooper Bay has the community on edge.

The fire started at the old school early August 3. Within hours, 14 homes, teacher housing, a grocery store and several small structures were destroyed.

Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) declared the village of 1,100 a disaster. Residents are eligible for up to $5,000 to replace destroyed property. Out-of-village residents with property can also file claims.

The Alaska National Guard has been called into patrol the village. "Everybody's on edge, including myself," Police Chief James Hoelscher told The Anchorage Daily News.

The village population is about 95 percent Native. Most are Yupik Eskimo.

Get the Story:
Guardsmen will patrol fire-ravaged village (The Anchorage Daily News 8/10)
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Governor declares Hooper Bay a disaster (AP 8/8)
School fire ravages Hooper Bay (The Anchorage Daily News 8/4)