Rain overnight and light showers throughout the day kept fire behavior minimal Saturday on the Little Chena River Fire (#499). Rain and moderate temperatures work together to keep the relative humidity (RH) at higher levels. Higher RH moderates fire behavior, allowing firefighters to safely work within the fire perimeter.
Even with measurable amounts of precipitation in most areas, crews are finding places where vegetation is dry, such as under a large stand of trees. This is evidence rain has not been substantial enough to reach all the way to the ground and soak into the dry, thick duff layers.
Crews continue to work into the burned area from the perimeter edge and comb through burned areas to extinguish any hot spots located. Division of Forestry, Fairbanks Area Forestry IC Ernest Prax indicates the fire is 40% contained.
The lightning caused fire is 11 miles northeast of the Fort Knox mine, and 11 miles north of Two Rivers.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 