As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, there were 169 active wildfires statewide, with 8 new starts in the past 24 hours. So far, 320 fires have burned 484,845 acres across Alaska. Brief updates are provided for Wednesday’s staffed fires within the BLM Alaska Fire Service’s protection area.
Deep (#213) – Crews improved existing secondary fire containment line Wednesday. A helitack crew arrived and is monitoring fire activity. The fire has moved north into an area that previously burned in 2015, which will slow the Deep Fire’s progression. Although there is some movement toward Lake Minchumina, current weather and fuel conditions makes major growth in that direction unlikely. The fire is 6 miles southwest of the community of Lake Minchumina. It is estimated at 13,769 acres with 52 people assigned.
Lookout (#300) – Firefighters found no residual heat after an extensive search of the area. With cloudy, cooler, and rainy weather, firefighters are continuing to monitor the area as precipitation continues. The fire is about 16 miles southwest of Bettles and is estimated to be 9 acres with eight people assigned.
Fickett (#301) – With cooler and overcast weather, smokejumpers completed mopping up and knocking down as much heat as possible in the north of the fire area. There was no fire growth, and the fire was 40% contained at end of shift Wednesday. The fire is about 15 miles southwest of Bettles and is estimated to be 26 acres, with eight people assigned.
Fork (#316) – An Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection engine crew monitored the fire to protect military infrastructure and the utility corridor. The area received some precipitation overnight and humidity remains high. The fire is about 25 miles northeast of Salcha and with more precise mapping is estimated to be estimated at 260 acres, with 3 people are assigned.
Naluk (#209) – The fire received 2 inches of rain overnight with more rain over the area throughout the day. Before the rain, crews were able to secure fire lines around nearby structures and allotments. Smokejumpers are set to be demobilized when weather allows. Fire is about 20 miles north of Selawik in the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge and is estimated at 15,330 acres with 24 people assigned.
Main (#240) – The Clear Water Crew, a local Alaska Type 2 hand crew arrived in Ruby on Tuesday to begin structure assessments. The Laguna Crew and the Slide Type 2 Hand Crew will arrive in Ruby on Thursday. The northwest edge of the fire remains active, but terrain and riparian areas are slowing growth of the fire to the east. The fire is 11 miles southwest of Ruby and is estimated at 19,952 acres with 26 people assigned.
Hawk (#334) – The fire continued to receive moisture from storms Wednesday with weather decreasing fire behavior and reducing smoke. Smokejumpers completed prepping structures on Tuesday and demobilized Wednesday. The fire is about 90 miles southeast of Selawik and is estimated at 44 acres with four people assigned.
Roundabout (#337) – On Wednesday, smokejumpers worked to secure containment and mop up the interior of the fire. By end of Tuesday, the fire showed little smoke and decreased activity after receiving heavy precipitation. The fire is about 130 miles southeast of Selawik within the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge and is estimated at 30 acres. The eight smokejumpers assigned to the fire demobilized Wednesday afternoon.
Hat Lie (#330) – Ten smokejumpers continued interior mop-up efforts and are tentatively set for demobilization on Thursday. The fire is about 7 miles northeast of Birch Creek, and 19 miles southwest of Fort Yukon, and is estimated at 2 acres with 10 people assigned.
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-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, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 