Ketchikan officials say welding caused ferry fire

KETCHIKAN (AP) — Welding accidently caused a recent fire on the Alaska state ferry Malaspina, according to an investigation report by the Ketchikan Fire Department.

The Feb. 7 fire caused an estimated $750,000 of damage, according to the report obtained by the Ketchikan Daily News (http://bit.ly/zuwDQd ).

Alaska Marine Highway spokesman Jeremy Woodrow said the ferry system has not calculated the exact amount of damage, but cleanup costs are estimated at about $300,000.

No one was injured when the fire broke out while the 372-foot ferry was in drydock at Ketchikan Shipyard. Fire authorities hav...