Cooler daytime temperatures and afternoon scattered rain showers on Sunday helped minimize new fire starts across Southern Alaska allowing firefighters to make good progress on suppression efforts across the region. Firefighters responded to three new fires across Southwest Alaska including the Cienna Fire (#322), the Truck Bed Fire (#325) and the Barley Fire (#328). Today, fire crews will continue to suppress new initial attack fires across the fire area while providing support on existing incidents.
Cooler temperatures and scattered rain showers will continue over the Southern region for the next few days helping fire crews to gain the upper hand on current wildfires while providing short term relief for initial attack resources until high pressure and hotter temperatures return midweek.
With Fourth of July fast approaching, the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection would like to remind you to exercise extreme caution with any fire or fireworks in the coming days. There are several ongoing major incidents on the landscape and fire-fighting resources are stretched thin. In the current conditions, any sources of ignition can quickly become a large and destructive wildfire. As a reminder, fireworks are not allowed in the Kenai Borough and Mat-Su Boroughs. Thank you for helping keep yourself, your neighbors, and your local first responders safe this Fourth of July.
Below are new fires and existing fires the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection are currently managing in Southern Alaska.
Cienna Fire (#322) – The Cienna Fire, on Cienna Road in Palmer, was reported around 1:00 PM on Sunday afternoon. The human-caused fire was found smoldering in hardwoods and grass and posed no suppression challenge to responders. The fire was contained at 0.1 acre with assistance from the Palmer Fire Department. There were no threats to the public or adjacent lands.
Truck Bed Fire (#325)- The Truck Bed Fire was reported early in the afternoon on Sunday, ¼ mile from Johnson Lake, 3 miles to the north of the Tustumena Lake Fire (#311). Engine crews dispatched, found the fire to be burning in brush and debris in the back of an abandoned truck bed. The fire had begun to spread to the vegetation upon arrival and crews quickly began suppression activities. The fire was safely extinguished at 0.1 acre by crews and posed no threat to the public.
Barley Fire (#328) – The Barley Fire was reported on the end of Barley Road in Wasilla late on Sunday afternoon. Initial attack responders from state and local municipal jurisdictions found the fire to be burning in trash, tires and carpet remnants. The fire quickly moved to the wildland, consuming 0.1 acres of grass and brush before being extinguished by fire crews on scene. The fire posed no threat to the surrounding vegetation or structures nearby.
Tustumena Lake Fire (#311) – The 35 acre, Tustumena Lake Fire, 20 miles south of Soldotna, was reported on Saturday afternoon at approximately 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. 12 additional smoke jumpers were also ordered to support the firefighting operation. During initial attack, water dropping aircraft delivered over 56,000 gallons of water which allowed the crews to make good progress and slow the initial spread of the fire.
On Sunday, crews were able to construct suppression line around the entire fire perimeter and will begin mopping up the thick black spruce stands, and brush pockets impacted by the fire today. Two additional 20-person hand crews have been ordered to assist with fire suppression. Aided by favorable weather and the hard work of the firefighters the fire is now 25% contained.
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 Kasilof River is currently closed for fire operations.
The fire poses no threat to the residents of the Kenai Pennisula Burough at this time. For more information regarding the impact to the community please visit info.kpb.us This is the one-stop hub site for ready,set,go, know-your-zones and other response information.
American Creek Fire (#143) – 25 miles northeast of King Salmon, this lightning caused fire is burning in a limited response area and is estimated to be 4,650 acres with eight personnel assigned. The acreage has been updated to reflect the most recent aerial mapping. Firefighters completed point protection on one of the National Park Service cabins on Sunday but were unable to locate the second cabin after a thorough aerial and ground reconnaissance of the fire area.
Aided by cooler temperatures and isolated rain showers across southwest Alaska on Sunday, the Type 3 organization known as the Red Devil Group made 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, the fire is burning in a modified response area and is estimated to be 91 acres with 10% containment. 46 personnel are currently assigned to the fire. The Del Rosa Hotshot crew continues their fire line construction on the northern portion of the fire’s edge working towards the Laguna Hotshots who continue to implement 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 is in a modified response area. The fire exhibited minimal growth on Sunday, increasing to 7,415 acres. The Chena Hotshots will continue to utilize their hose lays on the south and southeast sides of the fire to mop up and patrol areas of heat along the perimeter that was caused by the fire’s initial run. There are currently 20 personnel assigned to the fire.
Portage Fire (#169) – 5.5 miles southwest of Georgetown, south of the Kuskokwim River, is a full response area fire and is estimated to be 823 acres. The fire has seen minimal growth over the past 24 hours due to cooler temperatures and isolated showers over the fire area. The U.S. Forest Service Type 2 initial attack crew will continue with point protection preparations for native allotments while securing and reinforcing the northern perimeter. 33 personnel are currently assigned to the incident.
Categories: Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 