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Two fires on the Dalton Highway Complex declared contained

By Dalton Highway Complex on July 19, 2022

The ongoing cooler temperatures and precipitation continued to help all fires on the Dalton Highway Complex on Monday. The MM 125 Fire (#441) showed minimal fire behavior; crews continue work on hotspots on the southern perimeter to keep it east of Dalton Highway. Crews continued suppression efforts on the Idaho Bar Fire (#555). The Curky Fire (#318), Prospect Fire (#494), Troublesome Fire (#359),and Huron Fire (#372) all remained inactive. Fire crews are assessing and taking necessary preparatory actions on community and cultural assets in and around Rampart. With the decrease in overall fire activity on the complex, personnel are beginning the process of removing tools and equipment from the field. While the wetter weather is beneficial, surface and subsurface hotspots are scattered across the complex and will continue to creep and smolder in the deep duff layer. A cool wet weather pattern will persist throughout the week as a southwest flow continues and weather fronts move across the Interior.

Burn scar of the Troublesome Fire with multiple smoke wisps in the background as viewed from a plane window with a wing in the foreground. — Aerial view of the Troublesome Fire (#359) . Photo Credit: B. Heywood, CAIIMT 14

Firefighters continue to check on all fires within the complex to ensure that all appropriate actions are being taken.The Curky Fire (#318), Little Salt Fire (#521), and Idaho Bar Fire (#555) are full suppressionfires. The Idaho Bar Fire (#555) is the most active fire in the complex. Crews continue to mop up and secure the Fort Hamlin Hills Fire (#562) on the east side of the Dalton Highway. Two of the fires in the Dalton Highway Complex, the Montana Gulch Fire (#556) and the Tozitna Fire (#543) have been declared contained.

Dalton Highway Complex (89,100 acres): The acreage total includes all fires in the Dalton Highway Complex. The largest or most active fires in the complex are:

Curky Fire (#318): 28,961 acres, located 4.5 miles west of MP 84 on the Dalton highway
Douglas Fire (#336): 23,124 acres, located on both sides of the Dalton Highway between MP 141 and MP 149
Fort Hamlin Hills Fire (#562): 615 acres, located between MP70 and MP73 on the Dalton Highway
Huron Fire (#372): 18,822 acres, located between Rampart and the Dalton Highway
Idaho Bar Fire (#555): 112 acres, located 4.5 miles southeast of Rampart
MM 125 Fire (#441): 2,986 acres, located between MP 121 and MP 125 on the Dalton Highway
Troublesome Fire (#359): 13,282 acres, located 11.5 miles east of Rampart

Multiple tents and yellow canopy set up along the river with crews cooking and sheltering from the rain. — Interagency Crew #1 of the Missouri-Iowa Interagency Coordination Center set up at the Rampart forward operating base sheltering from the rain.
Photo Credit: L. Dirk, CAIIMT 14

Fire Weather: A cool wet weather pattern will persist throughout the week as a southwest flow continues and weather fronts move across the Interior. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon.

Closures: Arctic Circle Campground is closed due to firefighting activity. Arctic Circle Wayside (sign location) is open.

Public Safety: When driving on the Dalton Highway, use caution, have patience with the firefighting effort, and always drive with headlights on. The road is narrow; pulling over to stop on the shoulder is discouraged.