UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.
The Moose Creek Fire in Glennallen is now 70% contained and firefighters expect to reach full containment in the next hour. Resources from the GlennRich Fire Rescue have been release from the scene and the helicopter will be released once it completes its current fuel cycle. We added a picture of a helicopter water drop from Mat-Su helitack member Brogan Putman at the bottom of this article to show you some of the hazardous materials (i.e. tires) that firefighters had to contend with while fighting this fire. An excavator has been ordered to help deal with the haz mat that is burning.
ORiGINAL POST
The Valdez-Copper River Forestry office and Glennrich Fire Rescue are currently working to contain a 2-acre brush fire in downtown Glennallen.
The fire, named the Moose Creek Fire, was reported at 12:23 p.m. along Moose Creek Road. The fire is believed to have started as a result of previous burning activity that was not fully extinguished. The fire escaped into grass and then into the wildlands where it was slowly spreading.
Firefighters from Glennrich Fire Rescue and the Valdez/Copper River Area Forestry office were first on scene and a helicopter from the Mat-Su Area office also responded with a load of five firefighters. The helicopter is being used to drop water on hazardous materials that are burning within the fire perimeter. There are about 20 firefighters and multiple engines from Glennrich Fire Rescue and the Division of Forestry working to suppress the fire.
Two old, uninhabited structures were burned but no homes are currently threatened. A large column of black smoke was visible from downtown Glennallen.
The public is asked to avoid the area for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 