The Oskawalik Fire (#122) continued to spread to the north and west Sunday as a result of steady southeast winds and dry fuels. The wildfire south of Crooked Creek along the Kuskowkwim River is now estimated to be approximately 1,400 acres and five percent contained. The fire is burning in an area previously burned in 2013 and 2015.
BLM Alaska Smokejumpers along with Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) firefighters, McGrath helitack and Southwest #2 crew, worked directly along the fire’s edge and also provided point protection for a cabin and Native Allotment. Retardant tanker T-544, a water dropping helicopter and two single engine water scooping aircraft, guided by an Aerial Supervision Module continue to deliver retardant and water to support firefighters on the ground.
One load of 12 smokejumpers demobilized from the fire Sunday and were prepositioned in Galena to respond to new starts in western Alaska. The remaining 12 smokejumpers will focus on the securing the southwest corner of the fire as well as providing a Type 3 Incident Commander to oversee the resources and logistical challenges.
BLM Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) Chena Interagency Hotshot Crew and DOF Gannett Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack crew were flown into the Crooked Creek on Sunday and shuttled to the fire by boat. There are 79 firefighters assigned to the fire as of Sunday evening. An additional crew, Southwest #1 Suppression Module is expected to arrive Monday.
Chena and Gannett will work to secure the northern edge of the fire, working their way south along the perimeter Monday. A great deal of chainsaw work is necessary due to the amount of live and dead black spruce on the landscape. Portable water pumps and hoses are being set up to help extinguish areas of heat along the fire’s perimeter. Air Attack, T-544 and water scooping aircraft will continue to support the fire Monday. A fire investigator will be arriving at the incident to help determine the cause.
Cooler weather Monday is expected to moderate fire activity and aid firefighters’ suppression efforts. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night for areas in the Upper Kuskokwim Valley, including McGrath.
Resources on the Oskawalik Fire June 15, 2025
| Resources Name | Number of resources |
| McGrath Helitack | 5 |
| Alaska Smokejumpers | 12 |
| Chena Interagency Hotshot Crew | 22 |
| Gannett Glacier Type 2 IA Crew | 23 |
| Southwest #2 Suppression Module | 20 |
| Single Engine Water Scoopers | 2 |
| Boat with operator | 3 |
| Retardant tanker T-544 | 1 |
| Aerial Supervision Module (ASM) | 1 |
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 