The quick work by aircraft and smokejumpers was successful in corralling a small lightning-caused fire south of Tolovana Hot Spring late Friday night. An Alaska Division of Forestry air tanker laid down fire retardant to box in the 2-acre Washington Creek Fire (#231). Meanwhile, three BLM Alaska Fire Service two water-scooping airplanes and a helicopter dropped water to take some of the energy out of the fire. After the aircraft left, eight smokejumpers worked until about 1 a.m. trying to get around the fire that is burning in heavy dead and downed trees from an old burn. The fire was smoldering in some of those downed trees on a hillside southwest of the hot springs Saturday morning.
Smokejumpers will continue to work on the fire today to secure the perimeter and make sure the edges are cold. Then they’ll work their way in from the edges, putting out hot spots until the fire is completely extinguished. They anticipate completing the work in the next few days, especially if the area receives some of the moisture that is predicted throughout much of Interior Alaska.
For more information, contact BLM Alaska Fire Service Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5511 or eipsen@blm.gov.
Before and After photos from fire retardant drops around the Washington Creek Fire
The Washington Creek Fire (#231) burning in heavy dead and down trees south of the Tolovana Hot Springs on June 18, 2021. Photo by Tim Whitesell, Alaska Division of Forestry. 
The lines of fire retardant around the Washington Creek Fire (#231) are visible from the air on June 18, 2021. Photo by Tim Whitesell, Alaska Division of Forestry 
The lines of fire retardant around the Washington Creek Fire (#231) are visible from the air on June 18, 2021. Photo by Tim Whitesell, Alaska Division of Forestry
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 