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Firefighters work to cleanup heavy concentrations of downed trees and unburned fuels.

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on August 20, 2023

Pogo Mine Road Fire (#191) & Mount Hayes Fire (#299)

Sunday – August 20, 2023

“Cold trailing” (using bare hands to feel for lingering traces of heat) is one of the final steps of mop up on any fire. To facilitate this process, any unburned surface fuels need to be removed. Firefighters are hard at work “bone piling” (stacking and burning) these fuels to remove them and clear the way for cold trailing, while weather conditions are favorable.

Tongass Fire Module stands in front of a bone pile or an intentional pile burn to remove fuels along the fire's edge. — Tongass Fire Module stands in front of a bone pile or an intentional pile burn to remove fuels along the fire’s edge.

Crews clean up concentrations of downed fuel in preparation to bone pile. — Tongass Fire Module stands in front of a bone pile or an intentional pile burn to remove fuels along the fire’s edge.

Pogo Mine Road Fire (#191) – 48,745 acres | 175 personnel | 12 miles NW of Delta

The UAS module continues to fly heat detection and reconnaissance missions. The structure protection group will be assessing Quartz Lake to help homeowners create defensible space around structures for the next few shifts. Chena Hotshots and Arroyo Grande Hotshots are moving to the southern tip of the fire to construct fire line around areas of unburned fuel. Franco Forestry and North Pacific fire continue to mop up around the portion of the fire that spotted over the Alyeska Pipeline. The Tongass Fire Suppression Module will be working up the western flank of the fire, breaking up concentrations of fuel along dozer lines and in pockets of downed timber.

Map for Delta area fires including the Pogo Mine Road Fire and Mount Hayes Fire.

Map for the Pogo Mine Road Fire — Map for Delta area fires including the Pogo Mine Road Fire and Mount Hayes Fire.

Mount Hayes Fire (#299) – 6,720 acres | 23 personnel | 7 miles SE of Deltana

No growth on the fire over the last week. The fire is currently being monitored by air. Sierra Hotshots are implementing cabin protection in the Lisa Lake area. Donna & Little Donna Lake structure protection has been completed. Inventory and retrieval of surplus suppression equipment from the fire is ongoing.

Helicopter 3KA slingloads a UTV being relocated on the Mount Hayes Fire #299. Photo Michael Schmitt / AK DOF — Helicopter 3KA relocates a UTV on the Mount Hayes Fire #299. Photo Michael Schmitt / AK DOF

Weather: Today winds will be from the southwest with some down sloping off the Alaska range, drying out the precipitation that is moving in from the northwest. Chances of rain will increase later in the day.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the fires, pilots please check NOTAMs.

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