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New fire reported along Alaska Highway in DOF’s Northern Region

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on July 9, 2024

this photo shows smoke rising above a forest along side a river — An aerial view of the Sam Creek 2 Fire (#359) on Monday, July 9. The fire was located between the Alaska Highway and the Tanana River.

This is a report on fires occurring in Division of Alaska Forestry & Fire Protection northern protection areas, generally north of the Alaska Range. These include the DOF Prevention areas of Fairbanks, Delta Junction and Tok.

On Monday night, State Troopers reported a new fire near MP 1369 of the Alaska Highway, about eight miles west of Dot Lake Village. This is in a Full Response area. Multiple DOF resources, including two helicopters with helitack, engines and engine crews responded to the Sam Creek 2 Fire (#359). Bucket drops were utilized to cool the fire while containment line was constructed. The fire is mapped at one-half acre. Resources remained on the fire overnight.

this photo shows a female firefighter standing in a partially burned forested area — A DOF Firefighter on the Sam Creek 2 Fire (#359) “cold trails” along the fire edge, a method in finding any remaining heat in the black with a bare hand. Cold trailing is a technique taught to be performed safely during basic wildland firefighter training.

Wetting rains spread across the region with the exception of the SE Interior overnight. Light rains over the Southern Interior and the Yukon Flats are expected today, with heavier rainfall in the Central Interior. Temperatures on Tuesday will be cooler than normal but expect an increase by Wednesday along with partially clearing skies.

There will be no regional smoke outlook unless fire activity increases.

this is a map of the DOF's fires in the Northern Region — Public Information Map of DOF Northern Region new and active fires for Monday, July 8, 2024. Click on the map to download a PDF to enlarge or print.

In addition to the Sam Creek 2 Fire (#359), one staffed fire remained in the DOF Northern Region on Monday, July 8.

Gold King Creek Fire (#276) – 46 miles south of Fairbanks in a limited response area. Incident Commanders took a helicopter reconnaissance flight to view fire #276 on Monday. An Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS/drone) was used to collect imagery of the fire as well. Transfer of command back to the local unit is planned for Tuesday, July 9, as resources prepare to demobilize. The fire experienced minimal growth. There are currently 36 personnel assigned. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Gold King Creek Fire for the safe operation of firefighting aircraft. Pilots should check here, https://tfr.faa.gov/, before flying in the area.