Start Date: 06/18/2021 Location: 4 miles S of Chena Hot Springs
Cause: Lightning Fire Size: 329 acres
Containment: 0% Total Personnel: 20
Cloud cover and high relative humidity on Saturday morning kept fire activity and growth minimal on a wildfire burning south of Chena Hot Springs for the second straight day.
The Munson Creek Fire (#235) is estimated at 329 acres as of Sunday morning based on reconnaissance flights and satellite imagery. It remains about 4 miles from the hot springs and 1 mile south of a shelter cabin on the trail connecting Angel Rocks to Chena Hot Springs.
According to Incident Commander Kiel Narins, the interior portion of the fire smoldered and not much movement of the perimeter was observed Saturday. Fire personnel are planning and preparing for structure protection if needed, but don’t anticipate the fire threatening the hot springs or any cabins or homes at the end of Chena Hot Springs Road at this time.
The fire is burning predominantly in black spruce in a limited protection area where the objective is to monitor fire behavior and growth. No direct suppression action is being taken at this time.
The 18-member Yukon Crew continues to monitor the fire from both Chena Hot Springs and from the Angel Rocks to Chena Hot Springs Trail.
Cool temperatures and cloud cover with a chance of precipitation is predicted through the weekend which is likely to keep fire activity low. Fire managers expect low to moderate potential for the fire to spread significantly during the weekend.
The Angel Rocks Trail remains open, but Alaska State Parks has closed Angel Rocks to Chena Hot Springs Trail for public safety.
The fire was initially reported on June 18 as a 2-acre fire approximately 50 miles northeast of Fairbanks and 5 miles south of the hot springs. Hot, dry weather last week allowed the fire to become more active and grow in size while putting up a column of smoke visible from Chena Hot Springs and Chena Hot Springs Road.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 