Feeding firefighters in Alaska takes a large team, lots of food

July 13, 2022, 9:30 am

The Lime Complex consists of two staffed fires and sixteen unstaffed fires. The total size of the combined fires is 865,620 acres, and there are 150 resources assigned to the complex, an area covering 21 million acres. Each of these fires was caused by lightning. We continue to monitor unstaffed fires for growth and potential threats to identified values.

Highlights: It takes a large, efficient team to care for and feed all the firefighters in the field. While crews typically eat MREs (Meals Ready to Eat, prepackaged preserved meals) for the first 2-3 days on a fire, they are provided with fresh food boxes afterward whenever possible. Since the creation of the Lime Complex on June 14, the teams have flown 230 fresh food boxes containing all the major food groups, plus numerous “comfort food” items, to the different fire camps around the vast expanse of the complex. Of the 230 boxes, 149 were type A, meant to feed two people for three days, and 81 were type B, meant to feed four people for three days. Here are just a few examples of exactly how much food has been delivered: 622 steaks; 149 pounds of bacon; 3,576 potatoes; 1,490 oranges; 149 pounds of fresh carrots; 1,490 tortillas; 304.5 pounds of cheese; 690 loaves of bread; 149 jars of peanut butter and 149 jars of jelly; 2,462 packets of hot chocolate mix; and 1,869 candy bars.

A group of logistical support staff stand in a school gym in Aniak, Alaska. The school's mascot is displayed in the center.
A support team from the Alaska Incident Management Green Team poses for a group photo in the Aniak school gym. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Incident Management Green Team)

Weather/Fire behavior: Mostly cloudy skies are expected today as an area low pressure system moves across northern Alaska and a cold front approaches the complex. Scattered showers are expected. Temperatures will rise into the mid to upper 60s, while relative humidity should hold in the 55-65% range. Winds will be out of the south to west averaging 4-9 mph. Fire behavior/growth should be low today and for the next two to three days.

Staffed Fires in the Complex

Door Mountain Fire (#244) – 114,294 acres.The Malheur Rappel and Galice crews made good progress on the mop-up efforts around the Lime Village burn-out and put down a hose-lay on the northeast side. The Garden Valley and Idaho Panhandle crews repositioned to Tundra Lake to begin protecting allotments there. They estimate it will take three days to finish brushing and sawline there.

Pike Creek (#239)/Koktuli River (#240) – 293,970 combined acres. The Grande Ronde rappelers and Burns helitack crew have secured an allotment cluster and cabin site north of the Koktuli River. They were able to complete cold-trailing a portion of the edge.

The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the southern portion of the planning area near Lake Iliamna. Aerial water drops and logistical air support remain active in this area when smoke and weather allow for safe flying. Fire Boss planes are staged in McGrath and may be working out of waterways in the Iliamna and Lime Village areas. Helicopters and other aircraft providing support to firefighting resources on the ground will also be working in the area. Please avoid this airspace for public and firefighter safety. Rememberthe fire area is a no-fly zone for private dronesif you fly we can’t.

A map that shows the boundary of the Lime Complex with fires in red
The Public Information Map for the Lime Complex Fire for July 13, 2022

Unstaffed Fires in Monitor Status

Dummy Creek Fire (#247) ~ 179 acres; Cabin Creek Fire (#193) ~ 74 acres; Gagaryah River Fire (#197) ~ 38,910 acres; Kiknik Fire (245) ~ 45,734 acres; Maka Creek Fire (#207) ~ 2 acre; Nushagak River Fire (#189) ~ 10 acres; Stony River Fire (#198) ~ 40,419 acres; Telaquana River Fire (#216) ~ 7,791 acres; Titnuk Creek Fire (#246) ~ 53,291 acres; Upper Talarik (#205) ~ 9,133 acres; South Lime Lake Fire (#190)/Swift River Fire (#228 ~ 88,502; Door Creek Fire (#273) ~ 54,006 acres; Hook Creek Fire (#188) ~ 4,275; Aghaluk Mountain (#206) ~ 115,030

Fire Information: Phone: (907) 290-2699 | Email: 2022.limecomplex@firenet.gov | Facebook: facebook.com/AK.Forestry/ | Website: akfireinfo.com | Twitter: @AKforestry



Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)

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