A smoldering fire was discovered in a wooded area along the Chena River in Fairbanks late Thursday afternoon. The Chena Landing Loop Fire (#104) rapidly spread, fanned by gusty winds, along the north side of the river across from Pioneer Park. Alaska Division of Forestry firefighters with assistance from Fairbanks Fire Department, University Fire Department and BLM-Alaska Fire Service
Smokejumpers contained the five-acre fire within a few hours. Forestry firefighters worked into the evening mopping up hot spots within the interior of the fire. The wooded area will require a considerable amount of saw work during mop-up operations that will continue tomorrow and beyond until the fire is completely extinguished. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
A second fire was reported in Fairbanks not long after the first. Fairbanks and University fire departments responded to the Deer Fire (#105), an escaped burn pile spreading in grass and white spruce. The fire was quickly extinguished by the fire departments. These two fires started on a warm, sunny afternoon three days after the last measurable rainfall and five days after the last new snow. The dead and downed vegetation exposed by the recent snowmelt is very dry. Near Red Flag conditions are expected as warmer temperatures and no rain are in the forecast through the weekend. Please safe in your all of your outdoor activities.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 