In mid-July storms passed through the Yukon Flats with thousands of lightning strikes. Drought conditions left the trees and duff layer very dry allowing fires to grow and difficult to contain. The rest of Alaska was also experiencing an extreme fire season and resources were limited. The BLM Alaska Fire Service (AFS) requested the assistance of the Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team and a National Incident Management Organization to oversee fires burning east of Chalkyitsik and west of Fort Yukon. The highest priority for fire personnel was to ensure the protection of the Gwich’in villages of Chalkyitsik, Beaver and Venetie in addition to Native allotments.
A quiet evening in Chalkyitsik on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Firefighters have completed their setup for structure protection in the community as the Frozen Calf Fire (#367) and the Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) continue to grow toward the village. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
A North Start crew member walks through a neighborhood of Chalkyitsik as firefighters finish their structure protection work Saturday, July 13, 2019. The Frozen Calf Fire (#367) and the Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) continue to grow toward the village. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Members of the North Star Type 2 hand crew pick up brush piles in the village of Chalkyitsik on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Firefighters have completed their structure protection setup in the community of 57 residents. The Frozen Calf Fire (#367) and the Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) continue to grow toward the village. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Members of the North Star Type 2 hand crew clear brush and low limbs around the Chalkyitsik cemetery Sunday, July 14, 2019. The crew continues to work around the village clearing brush. A fire hose connects one of the sprinklers on a tall spruce pole along the cemetery’s fence. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Members of the North Stars hand crew wet down areas of Chalkyitsik on Monday, July 15, 2019, during a test of the pump and hose lay system set up throughout the village. The structure protection measures are finalized within the village. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Alaska Smokejumper Jarrod MacArthur walks past a cabin on a Native allotment Monday afternoon, July 15, 2019, on the Draanjik River that has been setup with a structure protection system. Firefighters clear brush and trees before setting up a pump and hose lay with sprinklers. The sprinklers are on tall stands to cover a broader area in addition to adding moisture to the air. As the main fire approaches, firefighters may intentionally light the edges of their cleared area to burn toward the advancing flames. This burnout operation removes the fuel ahead of the fire and slows its advance. With the sprinklers running, firefighters with hoses and nozzles will extinguish any spot fires. Cabin and homeowners should always keep the brush and trees clear from around their homes. This makes it much easier for firefighters to protect. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
The Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) burns through dwarf birch and brush Wednesday afternoon, July 17, 2019. The fires of the Chalkyitsik Complex were not as active as they had been on previous days. Smoky conditions shaded the sun, and didn’t allow the fire to gain much energy; much like leaving the lid on a boiling pot. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
A cabin on a Native allotment along the Draanjik River on Wednesday afternoon, July 17, 2019, has firehoses coiled and ready in case the Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) approaches. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
A cabin on a Native allotment off the Draanjik River on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, has had the trees thinned and a pump and hose lay system installed to be prepared in case the Frozen Calf Fire (#367) approaches. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
The Type 2 Umatilla Hand Crew from Oregon hike out of Chalkyitsik on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Firefighters hand ignite from their control line ahead of the Frozen Calf Fire (#367) on Thursday evening, July 18, 2019. By removing the burnable vegetation along a wide line, an advancing fire will run out of fuel, stopping its forward movement. A drone equipped with a Plastic Sphere Dispensing (PSD) machine was working beyond their control line to add width to line. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
The Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) burns along the Draanjik River on Thursday evening, July 18, 2019, north of Tiinkdhul Lake. In this photo looking down river, the fire has spotted across to the north side of the river. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Plumes of smoke rise from an aerial firing operation ahead of the Frozen Calf Fire (#367) on Thursday, evening July 18, 2019, north of a cabin on a Native allotment on the Draanjik River. The cabin has been prepped for point protection. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
A cabin and cache on a Native allotment the Draanjik River on Saturday, July 20, 2019, after the Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) burned through the area. Pumps and sprinklers were left running by firefighters who were extracted by helicopter before the flaming front arrived. Trent Girard/AKIMT 
Peter Druck, right, and Marilynn Davis watch the plume rise from burnout operations on the Frozen Calf Fire (#367) on Sunday, July 21, 2019, from the overlook near the Tsuk Taih School in Chalkyitsik. The Frozen Calf Fire has merged with the Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) and the Tractor Trail 2 Fire (#348) of the Chalkyitsik Complex. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Dense smoke settled in Chalkyitsik on Tuesday morning, July 23, 2019. A high pressure ridge over northeast Alaska has brought warmer temperatures along with light and variable winds. Smoke will persist through the week. A chance of rain Friday may clear some of the smoke away. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
The Winema Hotshots of Oregon cover the pile of their personal gear bags as a thunderstorm moves in after they arrived at the Chalkyitsik Airport on Thursday, July 25, 2019. The crew was the second crew from Oregon to arrive at the Chalkyitsik Complex on Thursday. The Snake River Valley #7 Type 2 Initial Attack Crew arrived earlier in the day. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Chalkyitsik Village Council First Chief Stephanie Herbert gives a ride to Tamara Henry as they move supplies on the Chalkyitsik Airport ramp Thursday, July 25, 2019. Both women of Chalkyitsik are members of the camp crew working in support of the Chalkyitsik Complex. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Fire managers and division supervisors gather in the Tsuk Taih School yard in Chalkyitsik to give a morning operational briefing for nearly 300 firefighters on the firelines of the Chalkyitsik Complex. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
A member of the Tanana Chiefs Crew is on a Draanjik River gravel bar Saturday, July 27, 2019, as they move to another work area on the Chalkyitsik Complex. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Members of the Missouri-Iowa Coordination Center #3 Type 2 Initial Attack Crew dig into the peat looking for heat as they cold trail the Small Timber Fire (#687) of the Chalkyitsik Complex on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. The 34-acre fire is holding heat in the deep layers of peat along the Draanjik River due to the extreme drought conditions the area has experienced this season. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Chalkyitsik sits along the Draanjik River as Frozen Calf Mountain rises in the distance Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Ramp Manager Jarrod Bohrman sorts equipment back hauled to the Chalkyitsik Airport on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Recent rains have moderated fire behavior on the fires of the Chalkyitsik Complex. Forecasted weather is calling for scattered showers and cooler temperatures for the rest of the week. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
The Tettjajik Creek Fire (#424) burned near cabins on the Salmon Fork of the Black River as seen in this Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, aerial photograph. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
A burial site on a bluff is all that remains of the Old Salmon Village area on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, along the Draanjik River. The fires of the Chalkyitsik Complex did not impact the historic area. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
A stand of green trees remains around a cabin on a Native allotment along the Draanjik River near Nelson Lake on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Structure protection measures that included sprinklers set up to protect the pump and hose lay running from the river and around the cabin kept the Bearnose Hill Fire (#407) from destroying the structure. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
The burned area of the Small Timber Lake Fire (#687) covers 34 acres as shown in this Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, aerial photo. Kale Casey/AKIMT 
Ohtig Lake can be seen in the upper left corner, Chalkyitsik and the airport are in the upper right and the burned area of the Frozen Calf Fire (#367) is visible across the bottom and left side of this aerial image from Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. Kale Casey/AKIMT 
Camp Crew members Katelyn Englishoe, left, and Marti Jonas, in airplane, help Ramp Managers Rob Snyder, right, and Cameron Seals load backhaul into a Cessna Caravan on Friday, Aug, 9, 2019, at the Chalkyitsik Airport. Backhaul consists of fire hose and fittings, pumps, tools and trash from suppression operations on the Chalkyitsik Complex. The equipment will be refurbished to be ready to use on the next incident. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
Members of the Big Bear Hotshots of California pick up hose from around the village of Chalkyitsik on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. Fires of the 505,273-acre Chalkyitsike Complex threatened the village of 58 that is located on the Draanjik River about 50 miles east of Fort Yukon. Sam Harrel/AKIMT 
The burned area of the Frozen Calf Fire (#367) is visible across the top of this aerial image showing the village of Chalkyitsik on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. Kale Casey/AKIMT 
Chalkyitsik Complex Camp Crew on Friday, July 19, 2019, standing from left, Jonas Carroll, Terry Herbert, Bryan Joseph, Peter Nathen Druck, Edward Paul, Thomas Fields. Seated from left, Michael Joseph, Stephanie Herbert, Tamara Henry, Tyrel Jonas. Not shown, Jeffery Wright. Photo Courtesy Stephanie Herbert. 
Jump-12, an Alaska Smokejumper Casa, makes its final approach to Chalkytsik as a plume rises from burnout operations on the Frozen Calf Fire (#687) on Sunday afternoon, July 21, 2019. The aircraft was delivering personnel to the Chalkyitsik Complex. Ed Sanford/AKIMT
Resources such as equipment and personnel have completed their missions and have been transported to Fairbanks for release to their home units. Fire managers have built a plan to support a proactive response should fire activity increase in the weeks and months ahead. The BLM AFS will regularly conduct reconnaissance flights to monitor fire activity and possible growth.
Firefighters protected valuable assets including the villages, cabins and allotments by using point protection measures, saw lines around allotments, and nearly 18 miles of controlled containment line from Ohtig to Chahalie Lakes east of Chalkyitsik. Many of these fires will continue to burn, but the intensity will depend on several factors: the increasingly shorter days, the lower angle and intensity of the sun, and the possible onset of cooler, damper weather between dry spells. It will take a significant amount of rain over a long time frame to put fires out completely. Due to extreme drought conditions across the Yukon Flats, pockets of peat may carry fire through the winter. Reconnaissance flights in the spring will be conducted with this possibility in mind.
Residents in the area are asked to remain vigilant both in the short and long term when re-entering areas or allotments that have been impacted by fire activity. The fire has burned underground in many areas of the tundra, into deep duff and through tree root systems. Fire weakened trees can fall with very little wind. White ash on the ground may indicate deep pockets of hot ash where roots and ground vegetation have burned and may continue to burn below ground level. Sever burns may occur by stepping or falling into these pockets of hot ash. Walking through burned areas is not safe.
Chalkyitsik Complex: Tractor Trail 2 Fire (#348), 92,628; Frozen Calf Fire (#367), 240,543 acres; Bearnose Hill Fire (#407), 130,768 acres; Tettjajik Creek Fire (#424), 41,300 acres; Small Timber Lake Fire (#687), 34 acres. The complex total is 505,273 acres.
Cornucopia Complex:, Hadweenzic River Fire (#337), 62,068 acres; Chandalar River Fire (#349), 13,114 acres; Tony Slough Fire (#493), 7,961 acres; East Fork Chandalar Fire (#572), 190 acres; Pitka River Fire (#573), 1,260 acres; Thazzik Mountain Fire (#594), 4,992 acres; Coal River Fire (#601), 2606 acres; The Woodsman Fire (#602), 0.1 acres; Trail Creek Fire (#621), 2,742 acres; Sixty-One Mountain 1 Fire (#622), 22 acres. The complex total is 95,335.1 acres.
Chalkyitsik/Cornucopia Fire YouTube videos: https://bit.ly/2K5TW6h
This will be the FINAL UPDATE for the Chalkyitsik/Cornucopia Complex unless significant activity occurs. For further information, please visit the BLM AFS Facebook page or call Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907) 356-5510.
For current statewide fire information call (907) 356-5511.
Categories: AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 