A Type 3 incident management team composed primarily of Alaskans took command of the Ptarmigan Complex at 7 a.m. today. The Ptarmigan Complex is made up of a group of fires burning near Central and Circle.
The Black Hills Wildland Fire Module, a 10-person firefighting module, arrived Saturday to assist in efforts to protect the communities of Circle and Central, as well as numerous structures scattered throughout the area. They will join 20 smokejumpers and an 8-person National Park Service firefighting module with an engine already assigned to the fires. The Council of Athabaskan Tribal Governments Type 2 Wildland Firefighting Crew will arrive today to assist as well.
Fire managers are particularly concerned about the fires southeast of the Steese Highway, where fuels remain dry and unburned. Fires west of the highway are in an area burned in 2004, which has slowed their growth.
Significant fires in the area:
Turtle Fire (#243) and Ikheenijik Fire (#242) – These two fires burned together on Friday and are now collectively known as the Turtle Fire. It is estimated that they have burned over 7,000 acres combined. The fire was driven southwest on Saturday and came within half a mile of a remote weather station. An AFS helicopter crew was able to remove all sensors and equipment before flames reached the site.
The Birch Creek bridge has been prepped for structure protection, and the Ole cabin near Mile 139 has pumps and hose lines in place. Today, firefighters will continue assessing structures in the area to determine protection needs. Between Mile 137 and Mile 142 – an area surrounded by an oxbow – firefighters are planning a firing operation to remove a pocket of unburned vegetation. They will use a plastic sphere dispenser mounted on a helicopter to drop ping pong–sized balls that ignite through a chemical reaction.
Deadwood Fire (#214) – There was no increase in the size of the fire yesterday due to precipitation received on Friday. Crews were able to work along the edge of the fire and secure the edge. Firefighters will continue to secure the edge and begin gridding and mopping up today.
Ketchem Fire (#240) – There was no growth or smoke observed on this fire yesterday. It’s size is ¼ acre.
Alligator Fire (#265) – Is approximately 300 acres and is about 75% active. It is actively backing towards the hills to the north. It is burning in an area north of the Steese Highway that burned in 2004, 3.5 miles north of Central.
Little Mosquito Fire (#241) – The fire was smoldering and creeping in an area burned in 2004 about 3.5 miles north of Central.
-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. 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, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 