8:45 PM Update: With the support of aerial resources including heavy air tankers, water scooping aircraft and multiple helicopters, firefighters on the Montana Creek Fire are making good progress towards suppression efforts on the Montana Creek Fire (#312) this evening. With the hard work by personnel on the ground, including engine crews, fire crews and smokejumpers, firefighters were able to slow the spread of the fire with the use of hose lays, aerials assets and multiple fire apparatus from a large contingency of Mat-Su Borough fire departments.
Alaska State Troopers will continue to have a presence along the Parks Highway near the fire area near mile marker 96 throughout the evening and into tomorrow as fire crews continue to use the highway for access to the fire and to support fire personnel assigned to the incident. Fire managers will continue to capitalize on aerial assets throughout the evening with the use of water dropping helicopters and airplanes. The public will continue to see numerous airplanes and helicopters in the fire area over the next few days. The public is reminded to slow down near the fire and provide our fire personnel a safe corridor to the fire as they continue their suppression efforts throughout the night and into tomorrow.
Even as firefighters try to gain the upper hand tonight, the fire behavior continues to still be active along much of the perimeter, prompting the Mat-Su Borough to issue a SET status for residents along the Leroy Davie and Montana Creek roads. This is NOT an evacuation order at this time.
This will be the last update for the evening.
6:00 PM: Firefighters and aerial resources are currently responding to a new incident two miles northeast of the community of Montana Creek on the Parks Highway near mile marker 95. The Montana Creek Fire (#312) was reported around 3:15 pm today at 1/4 acre and quickly grew in size to an estimated 20 acres. The fire is burning in black spruce with grass understory. The fire has exhibited a high rate of spread with 5 foot flame lengths with isolated torching of trees within the fire perimeter. Resources responding include 3 wildland fire engines, a fire suppression module, 1 borough water tender, 2 helicopters, 1 retardant aircraft, 2 scoopers and a load of smokejumpers currently enroute.
The Parks Highway is currently open, but smoke and fire vehicles will be operating in the area between mile markers 94 and 98. The public is asked to slow down and drive with caution near the fire areas as firefighters and aviation resources are currently on scene battling the fire.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 