There were three new fires reported Thursday in the State of Alaska protection jurisdiction. There are 15 staffed fires statewide.
Todays weather will be mostly cloudy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. There will be areas smoke, heaviest in the Interior and eastern Interior areas. Temperatures will remain similar to yesterday with highs in the low 80s.
Burn suspensions remain in place for the Mat-Su, Valdez/Copper River, Fairbanks, Delta, and Tok areas. The suspensions will be in effect until conditions improve.
DOF New Fires:
Last Chance Creek Fire (#305) 11 miles east of Fox near Fort Knox Gold Mine was reported by a private pilot flying over the area Friday at 5:51 pm. The 2-acre fire was responded to quickly by engines and aircraft from DOF. Smokejumpers and the helitack crew were able to get into the fire area and with the support of retardant tankers, fire bosses and scoopers, worked into the early morning to suppress the fire for the night. Firefighters will continue throughout Saturday to contain the remaining fire’s edge.
Old Rich Fire (#304) 5.7 miles northwest of North Pole was reported as a car fire that extended into the trees. North Star Fire Department and DOF engines were able to contain this fire at 1 acre. This fire has been contained and will be placed in monitor status.
Eklutna Fire (#302) 12 miles East of Chuigiak was responded to by DOF prevention officers. This fire was reported as a bonfire during burn permit suspensions. The DOF engine was unable to locate any bonfire but located a small fire burning in the duff. The fire was quickly extinguished and declared out. This fire will be placed in monitor status.
DOF Staffed:
Gold King Creek Fire (#276) 46 miles south of Fairbanks and is estimated to be 2,626 acres.Smokejumpers and Yukon crew continued to assess and reduce fuels around structures as well as setting up hose lays and sprinkler kits. Suppression efforts were aided by aerial resources yesterday afternoon as fire activity picked up, moving the fire toward cabins. Firefighters will remain in place for suppression efforts and doing point protection for the cabins in the area.
Totchaket Slough Fire (#297)15 miles north of Nenana and is estimated to be 1 acre. Supplies were delivered via helicopter to the fire and fuel trucks were made available as needed. Hand line and hose lays were completed around the fire as Fairbanks 1 crew continues mopping up. The fire has been reported as contained and the crew will start demobilizing equipment and resources throughout the day. This fire will be placed in monitor status and the crew will be made available for any other new fires in the state.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 