The second fire of 2022 in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve was discovered July 4. By Tuesday morning, July 5, the lightning-caused Biederman Fire (#458) had grown to 1,088 acres. Four Alaska Fire Service (AFS) smokejumpers parachuted
into the nearby historic Biederman allotment Tuesday afternoon to clear brush and set up sprinkler systems around the structures. The fire is less than four miles from the structures, located across the Yukon River from Chester Bluff, above the east bank of the Charley and Yukon River confluence.
Today, July 6, a nine-person wildland fire module is expected to arrive at the site to further assist with structure protection. The fire will be monitored by Alaska Fire Service aircraft that are currently monitoring multiple other lightning-caused fires in the area.
The National Park Service (NPS) fuels reduction program and the Alaska Fire Service both deserve highlighted recognition in this incident. Alaska Fire Service’s coordinated efforts and protection of our public lands’ assets while allowing wildfire to remain as a natural condition of the landscape are crucial. While managing for resource benefit, NPS fire staff have implemented years of fuel reduction projects around multiple cabin sites, creating defensible space from wildfires. Numerous brushing and burn pile mitigations, including one at the Biederman allotment in 2019, have greatly reduced the current and future demand for firefighter support and firefighting resources.
Visitors and pilots are cautioned to be aware of wildfire smoke and fire management aircraft, as a high-pressure weather system continues, extending warm, dry, fire-prone conditions.
Categories: AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 