Southern Alaska continued to experience cloudy, cool weather on Friday, further reducing initial attack activity with no new fires reported across the response area.
As fire danger moderates across the state, all burn permit suspensions have been lifted statewide. This allows residents to conduct small debris burns, utilize burn barrels, and complete small lawn burns with a valid burn permit. More information about the DOF Burn Permit program and current suspensions can be found at DOF Burn Permit Program.
This report covers fires occurring in the Division of Alaska Forestry & Fire Protection’s coastal protection area, generally south of the Alaska Range. This includes the DOF protection areas of Southwest, Anchorage Mat-Su, Kenai-Kodiak, and Copper River.
Tustumena Lake Fire (#311) The Tustumena Lake Fire, 35 acres in size and 20 miles south of Soldotna, remains fully contained with little activity over the past week. Mop-up operations, which involved removing burning material, felling fire-damaged trees, and cooling ash pits to reduce smoke and escape risk, have been completed. Due to thick stands of black spruce and heavy debris, extensive mop-up was required.
The 24 assigned fire personnel, including the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s Pioneer Peak Hotshots, are being demobilized over the next 24 hours as the fire transitions to monitor status. A type 1, large helicopter had been utilized to transport equipment to the Centennial Lake campground as the operation scaled down.
Aviation resources will still be seen along the Tustumena Lake Road corridor as they assist with demobilization efforts from the Centennial Lake campground area. The Centennial Lake campground remains closed to public access for safety reasons.
However, the Slack Water boat launch on the Kasilof River and the Tustumena Campground are now accessible to the public.
The fire poses no threat to residents of the Kenai Peninsula Borough at this time. For detailed community impact information, visit info.kpb.us, your comprehensive resource for ready, set, go, know-your-zones, and other response details.
Cribby Creek Fire (#201) The Cribby Creek Fire, part of the Red Devil group of fires, located 3 miles north of Red Devil, remains fully contained at 91 acres. Significant precipitation has reduced fire activity, with air resources detecting no visible smoke throughout the multiple fires in the group. Currently, 46 personnel are assigned to the incident. On Saturday, the Del Rosa and Laguna Hotshots will complete fireline objectives by protecting Native allotments along the Kuskokwim River and will begin removing 2 miles of hose lays on the Portage Fire (#169). Helicopters will assist with removing the fire equipment from the area as the operation downsizes over the next few days. As fire activity decreases and fire objectives are met, resources will begin to demobilize. The Laguna and Del Rosa hotshot crews are scheduled to return to Fairbanks on Sunday, July 7.
Categories: Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 