This photo shows the Hog Butte Fire (#185) burning about 39 miles southwest of Lake Minchumina on June 5, 2022. The view is looking southeast toward the fire. 
This photo shows the Hog Butte Fire (#185) burning about 39 miles southwest of Lake Minchumina on June 5, 2022. The view is looking southwest toward the fire. Photo by BLM AFS 
This photo shows the Hog Butte Fire (#185) burning about 39 miles southwest of Lake Minchumina on June 5, 2022. The view is from the east side of the fire. Photo by BLM AFS
Smokejumpers are mobilizing to protect a Native allotment from the Hog Butte Fire (#185) burning about 200 miles north of Anchorage.
The lightning-caused fire ignited on Sunday and is burning in a limited management option area that as long as it doesn’t threaten any sites of value, is managed for the benefit of the natural ecological process. Once out there, smokejumpers will set up measures to defend the allotment.
This fire is estimated at 3,500 acres and burning within 5 miles of the allotment along the North Fork Kuskokwim River about 39 miles southwest of Lake Minchumina. Smoke may be visible from Lake Minchumina or Telida 10 miles to the south.
It’s also burning about 10 miles north of the Rungun Creek Fire (#186) – another lightning-caused fire that ignited on Sunday. This fire generated response from the Alaska Division of Forestry – specifically a helitack module of firefighters, water-scoopers, helicopters dropping water and eight smokejumpers – to put this fire out.
The Hog Butte Fire is burning in predominately black spruce mixed with hardwoods and tundra. Warm, dry and windy weather have kept the fire very active.
Contact BLM Alaska Fire Service Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 