While the number of new fires continues to increase, most new starts in the BLM Alaska Fire Service protection area are in remote parts of the northern half of Alaska. Due to this remoteness, and with resources on higher priority fires that are burning close to communities, many remain unstaffed as long as they’re not threatening any nearby sites of value.
Of the many active fires burning in BLM AFS area today, only five had firefighters assigned with fire managers looking at additional recent starts that may warrant a response depending on the resources available. Meanwhile, BLM AFS personnel continue to launch flights for new fire reports and check on existing fires and areas where lightning is detected in case they spark new fires.
When possible, wildland fire is allowed to function in the natural process that is important for the survival of many plans and animals in the boreal and tundra ecosystems of Alaska, especially when other fires are threatening people and property.
As of 7 p.m., there were 30 new fires, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Dashboard. There were also more than 5,000 lightning strikes recorded around the state. To date, 247 fires have burned an estimated 11,704 acres. Of those, 79 fires burned 5,725 acres in BLM AFS protection area.
BLM AFS staffed fires
Loper Creek (#274) – Smokejumpers are enroute to a 2-4 acre fire is burning about 4 miles north of the Pinnell Mountain Trail in the Steese National Conservation Area. This fire is on the backside of Pinnell Mountain about 10 miles north of mile 96 Steese Highway.
Susie Fire (#256) – Smokejumpers deployed to this fire Wednesday night contain it before it threatens the Native Allotments and fish camps along the Yukon River about 6 miles northwest of Rampart. It was estimated at 3 acres Wednesday night. Smokejumpers reported they had secured the edges of the fire and were going to spend the day extinguishing hot spots.
Klaluthyiit Bluff (#219) – This fire is burning on Alaska Native lands and BLM lands about 14 miles southwest of Allakaket on the east side of the Kanuti River. This fire is estimated at about 200 acres and close to three Native allotments with two cabins within a half a mile of the fire. The fire was reported as backing, creeping and torching. The BLM AFS North Star crew is setting up protection measures on the allotments and cabin while looking for opportunities to contain the fire. The crew reported fire behavior significantly moderated overnight.
Champion Fire (#197) – The BLM AFS Midnight Sun Hotshots contained, controlled and demobilized from this fire today to move to an Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection fire. This 200-acre fire is now a blackened spot 8.5 miles north of the Steese Highway. It was burning in a limited management option area, which typically means it’s allowed to perform its natural ecological role. However, because the Fortymile caribou federal subsistence hunt on federal lands begins on Aug. 1, BLM land managers and BLM AFS fire managers agreed to take action on the fire before it impacts the upcoming hunt.
Moose Fire (#200) – The Type 2 BLM-contract Mooseheart Crew, mobilized and is extinguishing hotspots within the fire’s perimeter with the goal of putting it out in the next few days. The fire is about 11.5 acres and burning alongside milepost 100 Elliott Highway.
Other fires of significance, but not staffed
Tractor Fire (#258) – When flown this afternoon, the fire was estimated at about 25 acres and smoldering in black spruce after receiving rain. This fire is burning at the edge of the Yukon Training Area about 2.5 miles from the Middle River Fire (#229) and 3 miles north of the Salcha River.
Dime Fire (#275) – This 40-acre fire is burning on Doyon land about 20 miles southwest of Eagle and 6 miles southwest of a cluster of Native allotments. It is being monitored.
Contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 