Field operations completed and radio repeater system being removed on the Bean Complex

Incident Management Team at command post in Fairbanks conduct daily operational briefings by radio to inform all fire resources on the Bean Complex. Radio repeaters make it possible to communicate with firefighters in remote areas. Incident Meteorologist using base station radio phone to give weather briefing. People from other sections listen to briefing and their turn to brief over the radio in radio room. Photo credit: Tomas Liogys
Incident Management Team at command post in Fairbanks conduct daily operational briefings by radio to inform all fire resources on the Bean Complex. Radio repeaters make it possible to communicate with firefighters in remote areas. Incident Meteorologist using base station radio phone to give weather briefing. Photo credit: Tomas Liogys

All the structure protection and fireline equipment have been hauled out from the fires and staged at Manley Hot Springs for ground transport. The last firefighters are also back to Manley Hot Springs and all the fires are now unstaffed and will be monitored by air. Equipment and supplies will be hauled to Fairbanks over the next two days. Rain showers moved through the fire area over the past 24 hours and are predicted today. Fire activity remains smoldering and minimal. Subsurface hotspots remained scattered and are expected to continue to smolder until larger amounts of rain extinguish the fires.

The Communications Unit Leader started dismantling the radio repeater system on Sunday and will finish on Monday. On large fires, portable radio repeaters are installed in strategic locations to improve the radio coverage and the ability to communicate with radios around the fire. Three of the repeaters on the Bean Complex are located in locations accessible by helicopter only and a fourth repeater is reachable by road. Communications is a critical part of wildfire response safety both on the ground and in the air. Radio operators are stationed at the base camp to send and receive messages from the crews on the ground. Radio repeaters and hand-held radios from the Bean Complex will be returned to the radio cache, serviced, and prepared for a future fire assignment.

The seven fires total 197,255 acres, 103 people assigned, and reporting 98% completion. The remaining fire crews are camped at Manley Hot Springs.

Example of remote radio repeaters that are flown or driven to areas that provide the best radio coverage for fire incident. Communications Unit Leader sets up repeater, takes photos and add location intelligence for documentation and future pick up. Radio protective boxes and antennas in forest. Photo credit: Todd Gansel
Example of remote radio repeaters that are flown or driven to areas that provide the best radio coverage for fire incident. Communications Unit Leader sets up repeater, takes photos and add location intelligence for documentation and future pick up. Photo credit: Todd Gansel

The Tanana River Fire (#310), is 14 miles southeast of Manley Hot Springs and north of the Tanana River. It is unstaffed and in monitor status. The fire is 25,223 acres in size.

The Bitzshitini Fire (#312), is 23 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and south of the Tanana River. It is unstaffed and in monitor status. The fire is 71,266 acres in size.

The Chitinana Fire (#315), south of the Tanana River about 21 miles southeast of Tanana and 20 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs. It is unstaffed and in monitor status. The fire is 100,246 acres in size.

The Hutlinana Fire (#327), is located north of the Tanana River roughly 10 miles east of Manley Hot Springs and is 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 is 110 acres. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.

The Cosna Bluff Fire (#564), is located 19 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and is 2 acres. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.

For more information, contact Bean Complex Information at email: 2022.bean@firenet.gov; or 907-921-2454

Example of what a radio repeater site looks like on a fire incident. Communication Unit Leader was able to drive to this site to set it up. These are temporary sites to improve communications on fire incidents. Remote repeater with protective boxes, solar panel, two antennas and a guy in the forest. Photo credit: Todd Gansel
Example of what a radio repeater site looks like on a fire incident. Communication Unit Leader was able to drive to this site to set it up. These are temporary sites to improve communications on fire incidents. Photo credit: Todd Gansel


Categories: AK Fire Info

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