Four BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers, aided by a helicopter dropping buckets of water, gained the upper hand of a small fire burning about 1-1/2 miles southeast of Fort Yukon Tuesday afternoon. The Yllota Slough Fire (#225) was discovered at 1:30 p.m. by BLM Alaska Fire Service Upper Yukon Fire Management Zone personnel aboard a fire detection flight. The fire was initially reported at less than a half an acre in size and creeping through brush and a mixture of hardwood and spruce trees. Because it was burning in a critical management option area just outside the village, smokejumpers were quickly dispatched to the fire. The smokejumpers reported at about 6 p.m. that they had knocked the fire down and would spend the rest of the evening mopping up. They plan to demobilize from the fire midday Wednesday.
The fire is suspected of being lightning caused.
For more information, contact BLM Alaska Fire Service Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at eipsen@blm.gov or (907)356-5510.
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Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 