A wildfire southeast of Tok has grown to approximately 150 acres as firefighters on the ground and in the air continue efforts to corral the fire, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry.
The Taixtsalda Hill Fire (#357) was reported as a 20-acre fire at approximately 12:45 p.m. Monday. The fire is approximately 38 miles southeast of Tok and 16 miles southwest of the village of Northway.
A load of eight smokejumpers from the BLM Alaska Fire Service have been deployed on the fire and multiple aircraft have been making retardant and water drops on the fire to contain its spread.
The fire is located in a full protection management area and fire managers are taking full suppression action in an attempt to stop the fire’s spread. The closest known value at risk is a cabin about 6 miles to the southeast of the fire.
The fire has developed two heads, one of which is spreading to the northeast and another that is spreading to the southwest. The fire is burning in a mixture of black and white spruce. Light winds out of the north are pushing the southwest head of the fire into the Tetlin Hills. The volatile fuel types combined with the hot, dry conditions are causing the fire to exhibit active fire behavior that includes torching and crowning.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 