Suppression Module Denali, a 10-member hand crew sponsored by Chugachmiut Tribal Consortium, spent the night on the Susitna Fire (#235) after their initial attack Sunday evening. The 0.77-acre fire was started by lightning along the Susitna River 4 miles west of the Willow Airport. The crew spent Monday cutting a saw line around the fire and by mid-afternoon had the fire 40% contained. Their plan is to completely encircle the fire with saw line by end of shift Monday. On Tuesday, they will work to finish their containment and seek out and extinguish hot spots in the interior of the fire.
There were over 1,000 lightning strikes recorded in Mat-Su Sunday and thunderstorms over the Talkeetna Mountains Monday are producing lightning. The possibility of lightning holdover fires is very likely. A strike may smolder and creep through the dry duff layers until sun and wind bring the fire to life. Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection will monitor the area for any new fires.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 