Scattered thunderstorms brought rain to several of the active fires in Southwest Alaska, but the associated lightning is a concern for holdover fires. More than 2,000 lightning strikes were recorded in the region Monday. One new start was reported by aircraft 8 miles southeast of Stony River. The Lonely Fire (#244) is burning in a modified response area. Responders from McGrath were unable to reach the fire due to large thunder cells in the area. A helicopter was able to deliver four smokejumpers from Cribby Creek Fire (#201) to the new start. Once on scene the firefighters reported the fire to be .5 acre, smoldering and that it had received some rain.
A reconnaissance flight Monday evening over American Creek Fire (#143) reported that fire activity had diminished but was still burning on the northwest corner. A lodge and cabins, 5 miles from the fire, are not immediately threatened. The fire started from a lightning strike on June 16 and is burning in a limited response area 25 miles northeast of King Salmon, between Nonvianuk Lake to the north and Lake Coville to the south. The reconnaissance flight estimated the fire to be 3,311 acres. This fire had been creating a very visible column from the surrounding area and across the Cook Inlet. Fire managers will continue to monitor the fire. The fire will be allowed to progress as a natural part of the landscape.
Below is an update of action taken Monday on fires managed by the Type 3 organization in Southwest Alaska now known as the Red Devil Group. Personnel assigned and acreages have been updated to reflect the most recent numbers.
Cribby Creek Fire (#201) – 3 miles north of Red Devil is burning in a modified response area and is estimated to be 400 acres with 10% containment. 8 personnel are currently assigned. BLM AFS Chena Hotshots were shuttled to another fire in the Red Devil Group, the South Fork George River Fire (#172). The remaining firefighters are improving their control lines and gridding for areas of heat to be extinguished. Only one area of heat was discovered as fire behavior has moderated.
South Fork George River Fire (#172) – 8.5 miles northeast of Georgetown in a modified response area and is estimated to be 8,185 acres. Chena Hotshots will start implementing Native allotment protection measures. Satellite monitoring shows no new heat signatures. The most recent activity has been along ridges on the south end of the fire.
Portage Fire (#169) – 5.5 miles southwest of Georgetown, south of the Kuskokwim River, in a full response area and is estimated to be 1,500 acres. The U.S. Forest Service R-10 T2IA crew has completed an indirect fireline to protect Native allotments to the west of the fire. They will begin work constructing an indirect fireline to protect the allotments to the east of the fire. They will look for opportunities to go direct on the fire’s edge to stop its spread.
Additional staffed fires in Southwest Alaska are listed below with Monday updates to suppression efforts, personnel, and acreage.
Crater Mountain Fire (#206) – 18 miles west of Takotna between Ganes and Beaver creeks, is burning in a full response area and is estimated to be 1,500 acres. The 12 smokejumpers have demobilized from the fire. Structure protection measures are complete for the Ganes Creek Mine, 3 miles north of the fire. Should the fire advance towards the mine, helitack will be dispatched to the mine to start the pumps and sprinklers in place that are part of the structure protection setup. This fire has been placed into monitor status. This will be the last update provided here unless significant activity occurs.
Ivy Creek Fire (#156) – 14.5 miles north of McGrath in a modified response area and is estimated to be 70 acres with 98% containment. 20 personnel assigned. Smokejumpers have demobilized from the fire. Remaining Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection firefighters continue to increase their mopped-up area to 100 feet wide into the burned area along the fire’s perimeter. Backhaul is being prepared in anticipation of demobilization in the next few days.
There are 26 additional fires burning in limited management areas that will continue to be monitored by the Southwest Area DOF office. The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection will continue to share information about the fires in Southwest Alaska as it becomes available from reconnaissance flights and ground resources.
For more information on fire response management options in Alaska, visit https://forestry.alaska.gov/fire/fireplans.
For more information on active fires in Alaska, read the daily Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Situation Report found online here, https://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/sitreport/AICC%20Situation%20Report.pdf
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 