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Smoke from Tetlin Hills Fire visible south of Alaska Highway

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6:00 PM – BLM Alaska Fire Service Smokejumpers have deployed 12 firefighters to the fire after retardant tankers completed their drops, boxing in the fire. Retardant can only slow a fire’s progress. Firefighters on the ground are required to suppress the fire after retardant is used. Additional DOF firefighters from the Tok forestry station have hiked into the fire area. These combined forces will work late into the evening.

The Alaska Highway and the Tetlin Access Road remain open but motorists are asked to proceed with caution when firefighters and firefighting equipment is present.

This will be the last update for Friday, May 17. Return to AKFireInfo.com for more about this fire and others in Alaska.

This aerial photograph shows smoke rising from a wildland fire in a forested area
A portion of the Tetlin Hills Fire (#069) puts up smoke Friday afternoon, May 17, 2024, in the flats along the Tanana River. Afternoon helicopter reconnaissance showed the fire continues to grow. Kato Howard/DOF

4:00 PM – The location of the fire has been updated to 2.25 miles south of Mile 1306 Alaska Highway, burning 1.25 miles east of the Tetlin Access Road and south of the Tanana River. Tetlin Village is about 11-miles to the southeast.

A satellite image map showing the location and perimeter of the Tetlin Hills Fire on Friday, May 17, 2024, southwest of Tok, Alaska.
Public information map of the Tetlin Hills Fire (#069) on Friday, May 17, 2024, south of the Alaska Highway. Click on the map to download a PDF file to enlarge or print.

An additional Helitack with two firefighters have joined the response. Both helicopters are conducting bucket work. Air Attack has also responded to coordinate aviation and ground forces. The fire is west of the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge in an area requiring a Critical Response according to the Alaska fire response plan. Two retardant tankers are responding to slow the spread of the fire, now estimated to be 280 acres and growing to the south. The Alaska Highway and the Tetlin Access Road remain open. 

An aerial photograph showing smoke rising from the edge of a wildland fire's burned area.
Smoke rises from the perimeter of the Tetlin Hills Fire (#069) on Friday afternoon, May 17, 2024. The fire is 2.25 miles south of mile 1306 Alaska Highway. The Tanana River is visible in the upper righthand corner of the image. Air Attack/DOF

2:30 PM – A wildland fire was reported late Thursday evening visible to the south of the Alaska Highway near Mile 1294. The Tetlin Hills Fire (#069) is burning in the flats, a little more than a mile south of the Tanana River on the west bank the Tetlin River. Tetlin Village is about 3.25 miles to the southwest.  Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s Tok Helitack is on scene Friday afternoon conducting bucket work as three firefighters from the helicopter cut saw line. It is estimated to be 50 acres and burning in mixed hardwoods and black spruce. The village and Manh Choh Mine are not immediately threatened. 

This will be updated as more information becomes available. 

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Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)

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