Ketchikan Officials say Welding Caused Ferry Fire

An investigation report by the Ketchikan Fire Department says welding accidentally caused a recent fire on the Alaska state ferry Malaspina. The report obtained by the Ketchikan Daily News says the Feb. 7 fire caused an estimated $750,000 in damages. Alaska Marine Highway spokesman Jeremy Woodrow says the ferry system has not estimated exact damages, but cleanup costs are estimated at about $300,000. No one was injured when the fire broke out while the ferry was in drydock at Ketchikan Shipyard. Fire authorities have said the fire occurred in a marine sanitation space, two decks below the car deck.