People in Allakaket will see an uptick in firefighting personnel and aircraft today when the BLM Alaska Fire Service Chena Interagency Hotshot Crew shuttles to the Red Mountain Fire (#166) located 39 miles to the southwest. The Chena Hotshots will take over mopping-up the lightning-caused fire, freeing eight smokejumpers for initial attack response if needed. The smokejumpers and two water-scooping Fire Boss aircraft responded yesterday and were able to knock down this 52-acre fire burning 23 miles north of Hughes. The fire is burning on the opposite of the Koyukuk River from the village and is not immediately threatening any structures, Native allotments or archeological sites. The fire is fuel- and terrain-driven and is burning mostly in brush and black spruce. The fire was spotted around 1 p.m. Monday by BLM Alaska Fire Service Tanana Zone personnel aboard a detection flight after lightning moved through the area the day before. Smokejumpers reported the fire is smoldering and holding heat under the trees. A helicopter will stage in Allakaket during the day while the Chena Hotshots spend the next several days mopping up the fire.
For more information, contact BLM Alaska Fire Service Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at eipsen@blm.gov or (907)356-5510.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 