The Nugget Creek Fire (#323) yesterday burned three miles along a ridge paralleling the Chena River near Mile 37.7. The Fairbanks area Alaska Division of Forestry dispatched two engines and four firefighters to monitor the fire. They remained on scene overnight. The fire was active in areas of black spruce, where single tree torching was observed, and moderately active in mixed hardwoods and open areas.
Today, smoke conditions permitting, a drone fitted with an infrared camera will be used to map the current fire perimeter and update the acreage. Heavy smoke conditions have prevented using helicopters. Motorists are advised to drive with care along mile 37.7 Chena Hot Springs Road, and to watch for fire apparatus exiting the highway there.
Rappelers inserted into the area Wednesday completed point protection measures Thursday on the Nugget Creek public use cabin. That work included laying hose and installing pumps. The rappelers were extracted after constructing a helispot. Fire scars exist to the west and east which will potentially limit the spread of the fire to in those directions should it reach those areas. Information about the fire will continue to be available on http://www.akfireinfo.com, InciWeb, at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6401/ and information sign boards at mile 23.5, and the turnout at mile 35 Chena Hot Springs Road.
Categories: AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 