Northern Rockies Team 4, led by Incident Commander Rick Connell assumed command of the Bean Complex of wildfires at 7 a.m. Sunday following shadow days and a transition with Northwest Team 7. As a part of the transition between the two incident management teams, three additional small fires in the area were added to the Bean Complex. Two of the fires are staffed by smokejumpers and a hotshot crew. The third fire is very small, located in the rocks, and has not moved in several days. Light rain showers and cooler temperatures occurred over the fire area Saturday and continued to keep fire behavior to a minimum. Scattered surface and subsurface hot spots will continue to creep and smolder deep in the duff layers – the partially decomposed and matted leaves, twigs and bark beneath the litter of freshly fallen twigs, needles and leaves. Rain amounts varied by weather station across the Complex from .13-.25 inch. Scattered rain showers are forecasted in this fire area for the next several days starting Sunday afternoon.
The seven fires total 193,759 acres with 268 people assigned. Most firefighters are camping remotely as they continue to work to suppress the fires and protect values at risk.
On the Tanana River Fire (#310), about 14 miles southeast of Manley Hot Springs and north of the Tanana River firefighters continue to improve and strengthen fire line and seek out pockets of heat to cool on the spot fires located northwest and southwest of the Tolovana River. Firefighters continue to map remote structures to improve the database of known structures to assist with future operations. Excess equipment and supplies are being prepared for retrieval. Crews are completing protection of approximately 58 structures and four Native allotments that could be impacted by the fire. This fire is 24,751 acres in size.
On the Bitzshitini Fire (#312), about 23 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and south of the Tanana River, firefighters have completed protection measures for structures. This includes removing vegetation near structures and installing temporary sprinkler systems if necessary. Active protection can be implemented if fire weather returns to the region. The fire is now unstaffed and in air patrol status. This fire is 69,359 acres in size.
On the Chitinana Fire (#315), firefighters continue to mop up, secure, and monitor around cabins, other structures, and allotments within the fire area. This fire is south of the Tanana River about 21 miles southeast of Tanana and 24 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs. In the Mooseheart Lake area, firefighters are prepared to conduct firing operations if the fire progresses south, removing the burnable vegetation in the fire’s path to protect allotments and structures. This fire is 99,040 acres in size.
The Hutlinana Fire (#327), north of the Tanana River roughly 10 miles east of Manley Hot Springs, remains at 90% containment and 407 acres. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.
The Rock Fire (#557), is located 6 miles north of Eureka and is .10 acre. There is minimal fire activity because it is located in a rocky area.
The Elephant Fire (#561), is located 6 miles northeast of Eureka and is 200 acres in size. It is currently staffed by 12 smokejumpers and a hotshot crew who are both taking direct suppression actions.
The Cosna Bluff Fire (#564), is located 19 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and is 2 acres in size. It is currently staffed by eight smokejumpers who are taking direct suppression actions.
For more information, contact Bean Complex at email: 2022.bean@firenet.gov; or 907-921-2454
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 