BLM Alaska Fire Service is keeping an eye on a number of new wildfires burning in Western Alaska that were ignited after the lightning event that came through Alaska Monday night. Most of the new fires ignited within Noatak and Kobuk river valleys. With the exception of the Eli Fire (#216) burning 12 miles east of Noatak, all fires were in a limited management option area. This means that unless the fires threaten sites of value, they are left to perform their natural ecological role.
The Eli Fire is in a full management option area that could get a response as long as there are available resources. However, because it was only about 10 acres in size and not showing any fire activity, fire and land managers decided not to take action due to activity elsewhere and lack of available resources. Instead, it will be monitored in case circumstances change.
BLM AFS personnel have been flying the fires in the Western Alaska to take a look at the nine new fires discovered within the Galena Fire Management Zone that covers almost 94 million acres in Western Alaska. Of note is a cluster of fires burning south of Shungnak and Kobuk including two along on opposite sides of the Pick River.
The Pick Fire (#218) is about 30 acres and visible from nearby Shungnak. The 80-acre Lockwood Fire (#226) is burning on the east side of the Pick River. Both area bout 13 miles south of Shungnak and Kobuk and burning in a limited management option area.
The Wheeler Fire (#242), Zane Hills Fire (#233) and the Aloha Fire (#242) were all estimated at less than an acre and burning on BLM-managed land near the southern border of the Northwest Arctic Borough. None of these fires were threatening and were placed in monitor status.
Contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at 907-356-5510 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.
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Categories: Active Wildland Fire, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 