Firefighters used Tuesday’s sunny, warmer weather to their advantage as they reached 50 percent containment of the 832-acre North Robertson Fire burning near Tok, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry.
The perimeter map for the 832-acre North Robertson Fire burning 30 miles northwest of Tok. The black line represents containment line.
The fire, burning along the Alaska Highway about 30-miles northwest of Tok, was reported on June 1 about two miles west of the Alaska Highway near Milepost 1350. The fire is believed to be human caused and is under investigation. There were still 253 personnel working to contain the fire as of Wednesday morning.
A clear, blue-sky morning over the fire on Tuesday gave way to a few clouds and light winds when forecasted afternoon rain showers did not develop. Warmer temperatures and drying winds caused hotspots along the fireline to reveal themselves as fire activity increased. Crews acted quickly on these problem areas with support from two helicopters as they continued mop-up operations on the fire.
Firefighters burned off pockets of vegetation near the perimeter to eliminate the potential for them to flare up unexpectedly and cause embers to spot across the containment line. They also straightened out a portion of the fireline by burning across the end of a long finger of unburned fuels that reached deep into the fire. This operation eliminated nearly a mile of line that would have required mop up.
The Alaska Division of Forestry has enacted a burn suspension for the Tok area. Open burning and the use of burn barrels are not allowed. Although it is still legal to have campfires less than 3-feet in diameter, forestry fire officials advise you to refrain from doing so until conditions have moderated.
A temporary flight restriction remains in place of the fire and pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before flying in the area. More information on the TFR is available at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html.
The Alaska Highway remains open but motorists in the area should use caution and be on the lookout for firefighting equipment and firefighters on the road.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 