Fire activity remains minimal as partly cloudy, dry, and windy conditions moved across the Bean Complex on Monday. The weather stations around the fire area reported rain amounts from .06-.15 inch. The weather is forecasted to be slightly dryer over the next couple of days, allowing fire activity to continue to smolder on surface and subsurface ground layers. The Incident Meteorologist, Fire Behavior Analyst, and Long-Term Analyst from Team 4 are researching climate history and trends and discussing this information with several local fire and weather experts as well as researchers to determine the likelihood of a return to dry conditions and increase in fire activity. Holdover hot spots and pockets of heat are the main concerns which could influence future fire activity if a warm and dry trend develops. Firefighters completed suppression actions on the Elephant (#561) and Cosna Bluff (#564) fires on Monday. The smokejumpers were all brought back to Fairbanks to rest and prepare for future fires. The hotshot crew returned to Manley Hot Springs to be reassigned to another fire on the Bean Complex.
The seven fires total 193,670 acres with 265 people assigned. Fire crews continue to be camped remotely near the larger fires as they work on fire suppression tasks 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 patrol and monitor the spot fire areas 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 were hauled back to Manley Hot Springs. Crews have established 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 unstaffed and in air patrol status. This fire is 69,359 acres in size.
On the Chitinana Fire (#315), firefighters patrol 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 1 acre. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.
The Elephant Fire (#561), is located 6 miles northeast of Eureka and remains 110 acres in size. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.
The Cosna Bluff Fire (#564), is located 19 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and remains 2 acres in size. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.
For more information, contact Bean Complex at email: 2022.bean@firenet.gov; or 907-921-2454
Categories: AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 