The Oskawalik Fire (#122) is now 1,779 acres and 15% contained, due to the efforts of 91 personnel working along the perimeter. Suppression operations continue to focus on limiting spread to the north and west, with aircraft and ground crews coordinating closely.
On the north side of the fire, the BLM Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) Chena Interagency Hotshots and Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s (DOF) Gannett Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack Crew are focusing their efforts on protecting Native Allotments and cabins at risk from northern spread. The Kuskokwim River, up to three miles wide in places, serves as a natural barrier on the fire’s east flank, allowing resources to be concentrated where they’re needed most.
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Today, the smokejumpers are rotating out and will be replaced by the ten-person U.S. Forest Service (USFS) R10 Crew. The smokejumpers will be flown to McGrath to be in position to respond to new fires.
The suppression process begins with saw teams clearing brush and small trees to build a fire break, a gap in vegetation wide enough to slow or stop fire spread. Following them, firefighters install hoselays, a continuous chain of hose connected to portable pumps. These hoselays allow crews to deliver water directly to hotspots and extinguish them along the perimeter.
Despite its marshy appearance, tundra vegetation can be deceptively dry. It takes a substantial amount of water to saturate the moss, roots, and deep organic layers that blanket the ground, referred to as duff. Even after visible flames are extinguished, duff may smolder beneath the surface, making mop-up a persistent challenge. This is why extended hoselays and consistent water delivery are critical to securing containment and preventing rekindling.
Air support continues to play a key role in suppression efforts, with helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft helping to knock down active flames ahead of ground crews.
The Red Flag Warning previously in effect for the northern half of the Kuskokwim Valley, including Crooked Creek, Sleetmute, McGrath, and Lime Village, has expired this morning.
Categories: AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF), BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 