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Cooler temperatures Sunday helps firefighters on the McCoy Creek Fire

By Alaska Fire PIOs on July 31, 2023

Firefighters clear brush from around a cabin. — White Mountain firefighters clear brush to reduce fuel load around a cabin on the Salcha River on July 30.

Cooler and overcast weather on Sunday helped moderate conditions on the McCoy Creek Fire. With the assistance of fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft dropping water on the fire edge, seven firefighters from the Fairbanks #1 Initial Attack Crew went direct on the west flank of the fire. The fire is burning in heavy spruce forest and tundra in varied terrain, leaving a ragged edge that is difficult to contain. This is dangerous and slow work for firefighters.

The White Mountain Initial Attack Module is prepping structures with hoses and sprinklers along the Salcha River between river miles 6 and 27 in case the fire gets close enough to threaten them.

Although yesterday was cool, more warm and dry weather is in the forecast for the coming week. Firefighters will continue to work the active fire edge as conditions allow for firefighter safety. Structure protection will also continue as crews make their way up river.

Map of the McCoy Creek Fire (#201), Mosquito Creek FIre (#290) and surrounding area including the areas under GO! evacuation notices from the Fairbanks Northstar Borough as of July 31. For a downloadable pdf of the map, click here.
Map of the McCoy Creek Fire (#201) and surrounding area including the areas under GO!, SET, and READY evacuation notices from the Fairbanks Northstar Borough as of July 30. For a downloadable pdf of the map, click here.

Due to the McCoy Creek Fire activity, a GO! evacuation status remains in effect for Fairbanks North Star Borough residents in the Lower Salcha River, approximately from river mile 3 to 40. The Middle Salcha remains in Set status, approximately river mile 40 to 61.

Alaska State Parks has closed the Salcha River Recreation Area to the public in order to give firefighters the space they need to do their jobs safely. In addition, Harding Lake is closed to camping, but the boat ramp remains open to the public.

Fire information boards are available at the Salcha store and gas station, the Salcha River boat ramp, and Harding Lake boat ramp.