Updated April 9, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. to reflect new comments from parties involved.
The Unalaska Fire Department extinguished a fire in an Ounalashka Corp. warehouse late Monday night, with no injuries reported. The warehouse on Biorka Drive is home to Marty’s Sari-Sari Store, a popular Filipino-owned convenience shop. It also serves as a storage space for the regional Alaska Native corporation.
“The Unalaska Fire Department did an amazing job,” said Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale. “They reached out to OC shortly after the initial call, and we had staff that were able to meet them.”
Public safety officials responded to reports of smoke coming from the front door of the building around midnight Tuesday. Firefighters arrived shortly afterward and contained the blaze. The fire was declared under control around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
According to a city press release, crews found heavy fire conditions within the first floor convenience store. The fire also extended into the second story of the building.
In a Facebook post, store owner Marty Diaz said they will be closed temporarily for repairs.
“We are okay. Just a little shaken for the time being,” Diaz wrote in the post.
The Museum of the Aleutians cares for some of the Ounalashka Corp.’s archaeological collections that are housed in the building.
The fire’s cause is under investigation.
