As of 5 p.m. Friday, there were 163 active wildfires statewide, with one new start in the past 24 hours. So far, 323 fires have burned 538,087 acres across Alaska. Brief updates are provided for Friday’s staffed fires within the BLM Alaska Fire Service protection area.  

Deep (#213) – Wetting rains received in the last 24 hours and work performed by crews slowed fire activity and spread on Friday. Crews improved hose lines being used for structure protection and worked on the northern contingency line. The fire has stayed in its current footprint with minimal smoke. The fire is 6 miles southwest of the community of Lake Minchumina. It is estimated at 16,744 acres with 55 people assigned. 

Lookout (#300) – As of Friday, firefighters have been demobilized from the fire, which is about 16 miles southwest of Bettles and was estimated to be 9 acres. 

Fickett (#301) – With steady rain and incoming fronts through the weekend, the weather has helped firefighters work toward increased containment of the fire Friday. Even with extensive searching, no heat has been found on the fire in the last 48 hours. Crews are set to be demobilized when weather allows. The fire is about 15 miles southwest of Bettles and is estimated to be 26 acres with eight people assigned. 

Fork (#316) – On Friday, an Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection engine crew continued to monitor the fire to protect military infrastructure and the utility corridor. Weather in the area remains cooler and overcast and has significantly decreased fire activity. The fire is about 25 miles northeast of Salcha and is to be estimated at 260 acres with 3 people assigned.

Naluk (#209) – The fire continued to receive wetting precipitation, minimizing fire activity on Friday. Inclement weather once again stalled efforts to demobilize smokejumpers. The fire is about 20 miles north of Selawik in the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge and is estimated at 15,330 acres with 12 people assigned.  

Main (#240) – On Friday, the fire received steady rain minimizing fire activity. Firefighters are working to protect structures and allotments on the west end of the fire along Ruby Slough and the Yuki River. Smokejumpers are also implementing structure protection in Ruby along Poorman Road and Boston Creek by reinforcing existing fire line from previous years. If weather allows, more firefighters should arrive in Ruby on Saturday. The fire is 11 miles southwest of Ruby and is estimated at 19,952 acres with 63 people assigned. 

Deception Pup (#252) – The fire received wetting rain in the last 24 hours and continued to have heavy overcast skies on Friday. Crews are continuing to monitor the fire with a gridding syste in order to identify possible interior hotspots. The fire is about 3 miles west of Central and is estimated at 121 acres with 55 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: AK Fire Info