There were no new fires reported Thursday in Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s southwest fire prevention area. A low-pressure system that continues to linger in the Bering Sea will keep the southwest coast cooler and wetter. In contrast, high pressure over the inland locations will be drier and warmer over the next few days. Afternoon showers are possible in locations closer to the Western Alaska Range, however stable air over southeast Alaska should prevent thunderstorms and accompanying lightning from occurring.
Below is an update of action taken Thursday on fires managed by the Type 3 organization in Southwest Alaska now known as the Red Devil Group. Personnel assigned and acreages have been updated to reflect the most recent numbers.
Cribby Creek Fire (#201) – 3 miles north of Red Devil is burning in a modified response area. Improved mapping has reduced the acreage; it is now estimated to be 91 acres with 10% containment. 46 personnel are currently assigned. The Del Rosa Hotshot crew is working direct on the fireline constructing saw line and setting up pumps and hose lays. They have worked up the west flank and are continuing across the northern side. The Laguna Hotshots are scouting Native allotments along the Kuskokwim River across from Red Devil to be prepared should the fire spread that far.
South Fork George River Fire (#172) – 8.5 miles northeast of Georgetown in a modified response area and is estimated to be 7,218 acres. 20 personnel assigned. Chena Hotshots will complete their set up and test their hose lays on the south and southeast sides of the fire. They will then move to the east and north flanks to build and plumb firelines. The Chena superintendent will scout allotments and three nearby cabins for potential prep work.
Portage Fire (#169) – 5.5 miles southwest of Georgetown, south of the Kuskokwim River, in a full response area and is estimated to be 859 acres. 33 personnel assigned. Firefighters have completed work on the allotment just upriver of the fire and will move to the next two, nearby allotments to start protection measures. The fire is a horseshoe shape on the south bank of the Kuskokwim River with the two sides of the horseshoe leading away from the fire. The southeastern portion of the fire has been most active lately, spreading away from the river.
Additional staffed fires in Southwest Alaska are listed below with Thursday updates to suppression efforts, personnel, and acreage.
Mission Road Fire (#258) is a human caused fire that started in the Quinhagak dump. Satellite mapping estimates the size to be 156 acres. Firefighters completed a final grid of the fire and declared it out Thursday morning. They were released from the fire and flown back to McGrath. This will be the last update of this fire here.
Ivy Creek Fire (#156) – 14.5 miles north of McGrath in a modified response area and is estimated to be 72 acres. Firefighters made a final grid of the fire’s perimeter and found no heat or smokes A reconnaissance flight reported no visible smoke from the interior of the fire. The fire was declared and out the McGrath based fire crew was released and shuttled back to McGrath. This will be the last update for this fire here.
There are 30 additional fires burning in limited management areas that will continue to be monitored by the Southwest Area DOF office. The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection will continue to share information about the fires in Southwest Alaska as it becomes available from reconnaissance flights and ground resources.
For more information on fire response management options in Alaska, visit https://forestry.alaska.gov/fire/fireplans.
For more information on active fires in Alaska, read the daily Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Situation Report found online here, https://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/sitreport/AICC%20Situation%20Report.pdf
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 