Lightning continues to be the harbinger of wildfires in Alaska with almost all of the recent starts attributed to this natural phenomenon. With hotter weather and more lightning predicted, especially in Interior Alaska, additional fires are likely to ignite. Some fires, called holdover or sleeper fires, smolder below the surface until temperatures rise, vegetation dries, and wind breathes life into the smoldering hotspots. Over the past two days, the number of daily lightning strikes in Alaska has exceeded 10,000, with the possibility of dry lightning in Eastern Alaska on Wednesday and Thursday.
As of Tuesday morning, there were 113 active wildfires statewide, with nine new starts in the past 24 hours. So far, 233 fires have burned 129,998 acres across Alaska, with lightning-caused fires (103) beginning to catch up with human-caused fires (126).
There are 54 active fires in the BLM Alaska Fire Service’s protection area, which covers 191.5 million acres of northern Alaska. Most are in remote areas with a limited management option, allowing fires to play their natural ecological role unless they threaten property or people. If a fire endangers people or protected sites like Native allotments, cabins, or critical habitats, firefighters may mobilize to protect these sites without stopping the wildfire’s spread. This strategy prioritizes firefighter safety, values at risk, and the impact on the surrounding area, keeping resources available for new fires that could immediately threaten people and property.
Of the 15 staffed fires in Alaska, six are in BLM AFS protection area. Here’s an update on these fires within the four BLM AFS Fire Management Zones.
Tanana Zone
This Zone encompasses approximately 44.3 million acres in the northern middle section of Alaska, between the Galena and Upper Yukon zones. As of Monday morning, 12 fires have burned 650 acres.
Deep Fire (#213) – There are 45 firefighters, including eight smokejumpers, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection Gannet Glacier Type 2 IA Crew, and Grangeville (Idaho) Helitack, assigned to the setting up hose and using air support to hold containment lines. Two additional crews, Mooseheart and the K-River #1, both BLM Type 2 contract hand crews staffed predominantly by Alaska Native firefighters from rural communities, have been ordered. The Big Bear Hotshots from California are mobilizing to the fire on Tuesday. This lightning-caused fire is burning about 8 miles southwest of the community at Lake Minchumina and is estimated at 322 acres.
East Twin Fire (#238) – Eight smokejumpers were deployed along with two water-scooping aircraft, which slowed the fire’s spread. A hose lay has been completed around the perimeter of the 7-acre fire to pump water and cool down the edges and hotspots. The Tanana Chiefs Type 2 Initial Attack Fire Crew based in Tok, will replace the smokejumpers on the fire Tuesday. It is burning approximately 90 miles southwest of Fairbanks and about 45 miles east of Clear Airport.
Upper Yukon Zone
This Zone encompasses approximately 51.9 million acres east of the Tanana Zone to the Canadian border and from the North Slope south to Chicken. As of Tuesday, 16 fires have burned an estimated 6,801 acres.
Hermit (#141) – The BLM Alaska Fire Service North Star Fire Crew completed mopping up the last of the hot spots Sunday and were demobilized early Monday. This fire is located about 15 miles east of Beaver.
Galena Zone
At approximately 93.5 million acres, this is the largest BLM AFS Fire Management Zone. It covers an area in Western Alaska from the North Slope south to the Yukon River, and from the west coast east to the border of the Tanana Zone. As of Monday morning, 29 fires have burned an estimated 26,267 acres.
Galena Zone is setting up a staging area in the village of Kiana to better support wildfires burning in the Northwest Arctic. There are about 10 fires burning in remote areas anywhere from 6 to 21 miles outside Shungnak.
The BLM Type 2 Contract Clear Water Crew, with firefighters assembled from St. Mary’s, Mountain Village, Marshall, and Pilot Station, is prepositioned in Galena awaiting orders to a specific fire.
Tekeaksakrak (#222) – The wind-driven fire was estimated to be 150 acres in size on Tuesday. On Monday, 12 smokejumpers were deployed, and water-scooping aircraft were utilized to reduce fire behavior and spread potential. This fire is located approximately 10 miles southwest of Shungnak.
Naluk Fire (#209) – The fire is estimated to be almost 500 acres and is burning in tundra and black spruce. Twelve smokejumpers were deployed Monday afternoon. This fire is burning about 20 miles north of Selawik within the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge.
Wheeler (#198) – The 12 smokejumpers demobilized Monday after containing this fire located 24 miles north of Huslia.
Yuki (#200) – Twelve smokejumpers continue mop-up operations today, gridding and mopping up 50 feet into the interior on the 34-acre fire. Firefighters will continue to prioritize securing the fire’s edge. This fire is burning 22 miles southwest of Ruby.
Military Zone
This Zone encompasses approximately 1.6 million acres of U.S. Army Garrison Alaska (USAG AK) and lands co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and USAG AK in Interior Alaska. The BLM Alaska Fire Service (AFS) and USAG AK have a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for wildland fire management and hazardous fuels management services on these lands. Only five of the 28 fires that occurred in this zone this year are still considered active. Most of the burned acreage is from two fires – the McDonald and Clear fires – in the Tanana Flats Training Area south of Fairbanks.
McDonald Fire (#119) – Approximately 83 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to this fire burning across the Tanana River from Salcha. Hot and dry conditions have contributed to active fire behavior over the past few days on the McDonald Fire and the nearby Clear Fire (#204). Fire behavior includes some crowning, where flames move from treetop to treetop. Firefighters have improved and secured the lines in 5 Mile Clear Creek and continued work on a direct handline moving north of the cabins there. Point protection was implemented to secure military infrastructure. Firefighters are also patrolling the Richardson Highway and adjacent communities. The McDonald Fire was estimated at 54,158 acres and the Clear Fire was estimated at 14,771 acres Tuesday morning. A more detailed update will be posted later today.
Edited to correct the number of lightning-caused (103) to human-caused fires (126).
-BLM-
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Fire Service, P.O. Box 35005 1541 Gaffney Road, Fort Wainwright, Ak 99703
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The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, provides wildland fire suppression services for over 240 million acres of Department of the Interior and Native Corporation Lands in Alaska. In addition, AFS has other statewide responsibilities that include: interpretation of fire management policy; oversight of the BLM Alaska Aviation program; fuels management projects; and operating and maintaining advanced communication and computer systems such as the Alaska Lightning Detection System. AFS also maintains a National Incident Support Cache with a $18.1 million inventory. The Alaska Fire Service provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 