Two wildfires along Tiekel River near Mile 50 of Richardson Highway being monitored closely

Two fires visible from the Richardson Highway south of Copper Center have drawn attention from the public but they do not pose a threat at this time and are being monitored closely by the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Copper River Area office.
The Tiekel #1 and Tiekel #2 fires are burning in a Limited suppression area along the Tiekel River between the Copper River and the Richardson Highway at Mile 50. They are 5 roughly miles from the highway.
The fires have increased in growth with the warmer, dyer weather and smoke is visible from the Richardson Highway and the surrounding areas.
The Tiekel #1 Fire is estimated at 2 acres and the Tiekel # 2 Fire is approximately 70 acres.
State Forestry will continue to monitor both fires closely.

A smoke column from the Tiekel #1 and Tiekel #2 fires is seen Tuesday, July 19, 2016 from the Richardson Highway. The two fires are burning along the Tiekel River approximately 5 miles off the Richardson Highway but do not pose a threat at this time. Ashley Dale/Alaska Division of Forestry