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Final planned update for 9,317 acre Lost Horse Creek fire

By Alaska Fire PIOs on August 21, 2023

This will be the FINAL written update from the Alaska Incident Management Team (IMT) concerning the Lost Horse Creek Fire (#296). If notable activity occurs, updates will be provided on AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR-DOF Facebook Page, and InciWeb. Starting Monday, August 21 at 8pm, the public and media should call the Alaska statewide fire information line at 907-356-5511 with any questions.

Today, we will see an additional reduction in resources on the fire as work is completed and the fire transitions to a Type 3 organization. Incident Commander Mike Haisten will assume command of the fire on Tuesday, August 22 at 8am.

“The Alaska Green Team would like to thank all the cooperators and community members that have contributed to the firefighting effort. We appreciate your patience, support, and hospitality during our time here on the fire” says Incident Commander Peter Butteri.

Photo of hose rolling operation. In the front of the photo stacks of rolled and tied fire hose are set in rows. In the back of the photo, lines of hoses are stretched out and two firefighters are standing. — Once water hose is pulled from the fireline, crews work to roll it back neatly, ready for its next use.

Due to more accurate mapping, acreage for the fire has decreased slightly to 9,317 acres. The Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew is completing mop-up operations on the southwest corner. Four excavators are working across the southern portion of the fire to repair direct dozer line put in place during fire suppression. This repair work will be done along the entire southern perimeter from the southwest corner around to the Haystack 2021 burn scar. Fire managers are expecting this work to be completed in the next 7-10 days if weather cooperates. The masticator work on the indirect Chatinika line, located to the east of Middle Fork Rd and the Haystack community, is complete.

August 21 map of the Lost Horse Creek Fire shows the entire Haystack Mtn. area is in READY evacuation status. — The Lost Horse Creek Fire is 9,317 acres and is 23% contained. The fire now has a total of 222 personnel assigned.

CLOSURES: Olnes Pond campground is closed in order to support fire operations. It is expected to open to the public on Wednesday, August 23. The western portion of the White Mountains National Recreation Area is closed per the BLM Eastern Interior Field Office. Visit Alaska Fire Restrictions | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov) for the most up to date status on this closure.

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR) is in effect through August 23, 2023. The TFR will be rescinded on August 24, 2023. For more details, visit 3/4417 NOTAM Details (tfr.faa.gov).

The phone numbers and email listed below will no longer be active after Monday, August 21, 2023 at 8pm. Information will be posted to the websites listed below if notable activity occurs.

Public Information: (907) 921- 2555

Media Inquiries: (907) 921- 2554

Email: 2023.LostHorseCreek@firenet.gov

You Tube: www.youtube.com/AlaskaDNRDOF

www.akfireinfo.com ♦ www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry ♦ inciweb.wildfire.gov/