Initial attack activity was light on Saturday as firefighters responded to four new fires across Southwest Alaska including the East Redoubt (#310), the Tustumena Lake Fire (#311), the Montana Creek Fire (#312) and the Corkey Fire (#315). Fire crews will continue suppression efforts on the new fires while supporting other incidents across the region.
Cooler temperatures and wetting rains are forecast for the Coastal Region over the next 48 hours and will aid in fire suppression efforts on current fires while moderating the potential for large scale fire growth and new initial attack fires. Inland areas will continue to become hotter and drier throughout the day as high pressure builds before cooler temperatures arrive tomorrow over the mainland. This will increase the potential for large fire growth across eastern Interior Alaska due to daytime heating and the drying of available fuels.
Below are current and planned actions on the new fires that the Alaksa Division of Forestry and Fire Protection are responding to.
East Redoubt (#310)- The East Redoubt Fire, 10 miles east of Soldotna in the Funny River area was caused by an escaped burn pile. The fire was contained to 0.1 acre and posed no threat to the public or lands nearby.
Tustumena Lake Fire (#311) – The Tustumena Fire, 20 miles south of Soldotna, was reported on Saturday afternoon around 3:15 PM. Upon initial attack, the fire, burning in black spruce, was determined to be inaccessible from the road and a helicopter crew shuttle was quickly established to transport firefighters to the fire area. Smokejumpers were ordered to assist with suppression efforts and helped slow the spread of the fire. Once on scene, the firefighters requested aerial support from retardant and water scooping aircraft in addition to helicopter support for supplies and water drops to cool the fire’s edge. Two additional 20-person hand crews have been ordered to assist with fire suppression.
Smoke and aviation resources will continue to be seen from the Tustumena Lake Road corridor as aviation resources support firefighters on the ground from the Centennial Lake area. In addition, the Slack Water boat launch on the Kasilhof River is currently closed for fire operations.
The fire was last reported at 55 acres and poses no threat to the public at this time.
For further information about the impact to the public near the fire area call the Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Operations Center at (907) 262-4636 or visit info.kpb.us for ready, set, go, know-your-zones and other response information.
Montana Creek Fire (#312) – The Montana Creek Fire, 16 miles south of Talkeetna, was reported yesterday afternoon and quickly grew to 172 acres in size consuming grass, brush and black spruce. The large-scale response to the fire included both federal, state and local municipal resources. Aviation assets were heavily used to drop water and retardant in order to slow the spread of the fire and cool the perimeter allowing fire crews to construct direct handline and install hose lays where safe to do so. In addition to personnel already assigned to the fire, three additional 20-person hand crews and a type 3 incident management team have been ordered and will be arriving today to support firefighting operations.
Due to the fire activity seen within the fire area yesterday, residents along the Leroy Davie Road and Montana Creek Road corridors were moved to a SET (Alert Status). However, an evacuation order has not been issued at this time. There has been confirmation that one outbuilding has been lost to the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Parks Highway remains open. The public traveling on the Parks Highway will continue to be impacted by smoke and a large contingency of both aerial and ground resources assisting in fire suppression efforts between mile markers 94-100. The public is encouraged to stay attentive and slow down near the fire area as crews continue suppression efforts throughout the day.
In addition to ground travel, there has been a temporary flight restriction put in place to provide clear air space to aviation assets assisting on the fire. For more information on the current TFR, please visit https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_5688.html
Corky Fire (#315) – The fire was caused by a UTV rollover which quickly spread to the wildland. The fire was contained at 0.1 acres with the rapid response and mutual aid of multiple municipal units. The fire poses no threat to the public at this time.
American Creek Fire (#143) – 25 miles northeast of King Salmon is burning in a limited response area and is estimated to be 8,185 acres with six personnel assigned. Firefighters initiated point protection on one of two National Park Service cabins Saturday and will complete their work on Sunday before moving to the second cabin.
The Type 3 organization in Southwest Alaska now known as the Red Devil Group continues to make good progress on containing multiple fires within their response areas. 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 and is estimated to be 91 acres with 10% containment. 46 personnel are currently assigned. The Del Rosa Hotshot crew continues their fireline construction direct on the northern portion of the fire’s edge. The Laguna Hotshots are implementing their protection measures for Native allotments along the Kuskokwim River across from Red Devil.
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 have completed their set up and tested their hose lays on the south and southeast sides of the fire. They will move Sunday to the northwest allotment to cold trail for areas of heat where the fire impacted the area.
Portage Fire (#169) – 5.5 miles southwest of Georgetown, south of the Kuskokwim River, in a full response area and is estimated to be 823 acres. 33 personnel assigned. The U.S. Forest Service R-10 T2 IA crew are continuing with point protection preparations for native allotments.
Categories: AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 