Alaska Division of Forestry initial attack firefighters constructed containment line to reach around 30 percent of the Haystack Fire (#196) before transferring command to the Alaska Incident Management Team early this morning. Since responding on Tuesday, forestry crews along with other Alaskan wildfire suppression agencies have scrambled to contain the fire amidst extreme fire behavior on Wednesday. A group of eight dozers have been working to open old firebreaks and construct new ones. A couple of dozers worked through the night to cut line around the fire where it crossed over control lines to the north. Firefighters were able to cut a saw line around a 0.6 acre spot that crossed to the southside of Caribou Creek about a mile from the Haystack subdivision.
Today firefighters will continue to construct dozer and hand lines around the northern portion of the fire tying it in with crews working on both flanks. Two additional crews that arrived from the Lower 48 on Thursday will be inserted in the operation. Crews are working on laying hoses and installing pumps along the fire perimeter to mop-up hot spots in the interior of the fire area.
Heavy rains across the Fairbanks area did not reach the fire area but light rain was reported on the fire Thursday morning, increasing humidity and moderated fire activity. Continued inclement weather is expected to continue to cool the fire over the next few days, reducing potential for torching and spotting. However, afternoon thundershowers remain in the forecast, which pose threat for additional lightning or strong winds. Fuels in the Haystack Mountain area remain dry and conditions for fire ignition and spread remain high.
The Moose Creek Cabin in the White Mountains National Recreation Area is closed due to proximity to the fire. The Bureau of Land Management will continue to monitor the fire status and resume reservations when firefighting efforts in the area are reduced.
Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations encourages residents to sign up for wildland fire information alerts issued by the borough by texting “FNSB2021Wildfire” to 226-787.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire and some of the surrounding area to provide a safe operating environment for firefighting aircraft. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov for more information.
Fire Size: 897 acres Containment: 30% Total Personnel: 136
Start Date: 06/14/2021 Cause: Lightning Location: 18 miles N of Fairbanks, AK
Public Information: (907) 356- 5511 Email: 2021.Haystack@firenet.gov
inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7548 ♦http://www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 