This is a report on fires occurring in Division of Alaska Forestry & Fire Protection northern and coastal areas. These include the DOF protection areas of Kenai/Kodiak, Southwest, Mat-Su, Valdez/Copper River, Fairbanks, Delta, and Tok.
There was one new fire reported Saturday in DOF’s protection areas, it was located in Soldotna. DOF Kenai engines and Central Emergency Services responded to calls of a tree on a powerline. The Sports Lake Fire (#366) was a single birch tree smoldering and arcing on the power line. Homer Eletric Association deenergized the line. The fire was contained, controlled and placed into monitor status
Cool temperatures and rain showers will continue into early next week for Southwest Alaska. Rainfall will become more widely scattered for most locations along the coast and Susitna Valley on Sunday. Winds will increase for Turnagain Arm and the Copper River basin as the southerly flow continues. Scattered rain and cooler temperatures will move into the Copper River basin. Rain chances increase across the Eastern Interior Sunday. Chinook flow continues Sunday in the Alaska Range passes. Isolated wet thunderstorms are possible throughout the Interior Sunday afternoon and into Monday.
Burn Permits are required statewide Sunday in all DOF protection areas but call your local Burn Permit Hotline as conditions change. Valid Burn Permits allow residents to conduct small debris burns, utilize burn barrels and complete small lawn burns. More information about the DOF Burn Permit program and current suspensions can be found at https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn
DOF continues to staff one fire.
Montana Creek Fire (#312) – 16 miles south of Talkeetna, the Montana Creek Fire remains at 159 acres with full containment. Persistent rain was reported on the fire Saturday. No fire activity was observed. The fire will not be staffed Sunday and will be placed into monitor status. DOF Gannett Glacier Fire Crew has been released from the fire. They will refurbish their equipment, take days off and prepare for an assignment outside of Alaska. This will be the final update for this fire unless there is a significant change.
Gold King Creek Fire (#276) – located 46 miles south of Fairbanks in a limited response area and is estimated to be 6,134 acres. 6 personnel are assigned. The fire continues to smolder and creep with single and group tree torching observed Saturday on the north end. No rain fell during the day and only 0.06 was reported early Sunday morning. A smaller Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS/drone) Module remains assigned to the fire with flights planned for Sunday. The DOF Fairbanks 1 Squad tested pumps and hose lay systems on the two closest cabins to the fire and those along Gold King Creek. A helicopter has been requested Sunday to deliver cargo nets for backhaul preparations and to do bucket work on areas of heat near northern structures. 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
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 