Grapefruit Complex Update July 6, 2024
Alaska Incident Management Team 3
Incident Commander- Peter Butteri
Location: 40 Miles north of Fairbanks
Complex Acres: 87,434
Personnel: 324
Containment: 0%
Completed Structure Preparation: 45%
Continued widespread rain over the fire has minimized spread. Fire officials are working with the local units to effectively prepare and map structures at risk and critical resources for current and future defense. Protecting structures is the primary focus and objective of firefighters assigned to the Grapefruit Complex, with nearly half of the work complete. Evacuations were adjusted Friday due to the change in fire behavior and weather. A 90% chance of rain with 10-20 mph southwest winds is predicted for Saturday.
The Grapefruit Complex includes the Globe Fire (#253), Iver Fire (#249), Eagle Fire (#306), Wilber Fire (#308), Noodor Fire (#192), and Fossil Fire (#115). Firefighters are working to prevent fire spread toward property and structures in the area. Crews are also focused on protecting the Elliott Highway, Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Native allotments, and public and private structures, as well as minimizing impacts to fish habitat along the Tatalina and Tolovana river corridors. Fire activity includes creeping and smoldering.
Evacuations: Evacuation levels were reduced on Friday (July 5). The current levels are represented as:
Ready (Green): Elliot Hwy MM 18-65 / Set (Yellow): None currently. / Go (red): None currently.
Smoke: Rain has improved air quality. However, smoke may still be present on the highway mixed with fog. Please exercise caution and patience when driving. Turn on your headlights to help ensure the safety of firefighters and flaggers working in the area.
Road access: The Elliott Highway is open. Expect significant delays between mileposts 25-65 if fire activity increases. Firefighters are working out of Wickersham Dome trailhead with increased traffic and heavy equipment exiting and entering the area around milepost 28. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities contracted workers and a pilot car are helping keep the flow of traffic open. Check https://511.alaska.gov/ for road updates.
Temporary Flight Restriction: No TFRs are in place over the fire area.
Closures: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office closed the western portion of the White Mountains National Recreation Area surrounding the Wickersham Dome Trailhead at mile 28 Elliott Highway. The closure is in effect until Sept. 1, unless the BLM determines the area is safe for public use at an earlier time.
Fire Information Public Phone: 907-615-6793
Inciweb: tinyurl.com/grapefruitcomplexfireinciweb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BLMAFS
Twitter: twitter.com/BLM_AFS
-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, Air Quality, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF), BLM Alaska Fire Service, BLM Fairbanks District Office, BLM-Alaska
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 