The Deshka Landing Fire (#736) was estimated at 1,800 acres as of Monday morning and firefighters are working to protect cabins on Red Shirt Lake should the fire reach that far south.
Air tankers are currently making strategic retardant drops around the perimeter of the fire to create containment lines to help slow the spread and keep it west of Long Lake Road, where there are subdivisions and cabins. Helicopters are being used to make water drops on the fire and shuttle crews into the fire.
The fire is burning about 5 miles west of the Parks Highway near Mile 68 and is approximately 15 miles south of the McKinley Fire burning on both sides of the highway between miles 82 and 91.
As of Monday morning, there were approximately 50 personnel working on the fire and more crews were expected to arrive in Alaska from the Lower 48 to join the fight on Tuesday, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry. A Type 2 incident management team from the Pacific Northwest will be arriving in Alaska today or tomorrow to take command of the fire.
Pushed by strong north winds, the fire was pushed south on Sunday and exhibited extreme fire behavior. Firefighters working to control spot fires on the south side of Rolly Creek were pulled back for safety concerns and the fire crossed over Red Shirt Lake Trail during the night.
Firefighters then shifted their focus to structure protection for approximately 45 cabins around Red Shirt Lake. Firefighters are also working to secure the eastern edge of the fire closest to Long Lake Road with support air tankers making retardant drops and helicopters making water drops.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 