Update at 8 p.m.
Firefighters are fortifying a dozer line constructed around the body of North Fork Fire burning northwest of Homer Monday evening and making sure there are no spot fires outside this containment line.
The Level 1 “Ready” evacuation notice is still in place for people living along the North Fork Road north of the fire and in communities along the Diamond Ridge Road to the south.
A READY evacuation alert is NOT a notice to leave. This alert means that people must be ready for potential evacuation. This includes assisting family members with special needs, arrange to move mobile property (boats, trailers, ATV), and prepare pets or livestock.
The Zigzag Hotshots from Oregon were diverted from the Swan Lake Fire to join the efforts on the North Fork Fire Tuesday morning. The 15-person Type 2 Initial Attack Yukon Crew has worked on the fire since Sunday night. Together, they will work toward containment and control of the fire burning between the North Fork and Diamond Ridge roads. To do this, they will remove hazardous trees, put in hose lay and mop up hot spots. The fire is estimated at 59 acres.
Meanwhile, aircraft were diverted from the fire to work on the Caribou Lake Fire burning about 15 miles to the northeast. Click on link for an update on the Caribou Lake Fire.
Original update:
More aircraft and firefighters deployed in response to an uptick of fire activity Monday on the North Fork Fire burning about six miles northwest of Homer. People living along the North Fork Road north of the fire and in communities along the Diamond Ridge Road to the south were placed on a Level 1 “Ready” Evacuation notice due to the fire’s movement.
A READY evacuation alert is NOT a notice to leave. This alert means that people must be ready for potential evacuation. This includes assisting family members with special needs, arrange to move mobile property (boats, trailers, ATV), and prepare pets or livestock.
The 15-person Type 2 Initial Attack Yukon Crew arrived on the fire Sunday and have been working with Alaska Division of Forestry (DOF) firefighters and two helicopters dropping buckets of water on the fire. An air tanker is dropping retardant ahead of the fire. Two water-scooping Fire Boss aircraft responded from the nearby Swan Lake Fire to help the suppression efforts. There are also two dozers on scene.
The fire was estimated to be between 25-30 acres and moving south due to unpredicted northerly winds. Fire activity was described as running through open grass and brush with pockets of spruce trees in difficult terrain. Fire managers are concerned that if the fire continues to move south, it will reach an area with continuous spruce trees that are very receptive to burning, especially after the continued hot and dry conditions experienced in the area this summer. The fire area is in between the North Fork Road and the Diamond Ridge Road. It is about 1 ½ mile east of the mile 164 Sterling Highway. The nearest structure is approximately 1 1/2 mile from the fire. DOF officials said it was not immediately threatened.
The North Fork Fire is burning in between the Diamond Ridge Road and the North Fork Road about six miles northwest of Homer. Alaska Division of Forestry photo.
DOF is also getting help from Kachemak Emergency Services and the Anchor Point Fire & Emergency departments, who have been notifying people in the area about the Ready Evacuation level.
For more information, contact the Alaska Interagency Fire Information Office at (907)356-5511.
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The North Fork Fire is burning in between the North Fork Road and the Diamond Ridge Road to the south. Click link 8-19-19 North Fork Fire for PDF version of map.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 