The arrival of precipitation, coupled with continued cooler temperatures, helped firefighters working in western Alaska on Monday.
The handful of fires that makeup the Roundabout Complex outside of Huslia remain the top priority for BLM AFS Galena Zone fire managers. None of the fires are immediately threatening communities at this time.
Firefighters contained the Billy Hawk Fire (#182) and the Billy Hawk 2 Fire (#191) on Monday. Both fires are in monitor status.
The remaining fires in the complex include:
The Moldy Fire (#279), which is still showing heat around the edges of the fire. The fire is unstaffed; however, fire managers are working on a plan to implement point protection for nearby allotments and cabins once resources become available. Satellite imagery puts the eastern edge of the fire about 8 miles from Huslia. Marshland, the Koyukuk River, and a previously burned area are between the fire and the community.
On the Richards Fire (#251), eight smokejumpers worked Monday around the eastern edge of the fire, connecting their fire lines to lakes to prevent the fire’s spread. Firefighters conducting mop up are working 100 feet in from the perimeter of the fire’s edge to ensure hotspots are eliminated and the line is secure. Smokejumpers also improved a temporary helicopter landing pad ahead of the planned arrival of a Type 1 hotshot crew. The fire is 20% contained.
The four smokejumpers assigned to the Caribou Fire (#128) received a para-cargo delivery of structure protection equipment Sunday night. They spent Monday setting up the sprinklers, hoses, and pumps to protect a mine site, historical mining equipment and other structures. A helicopter dropped water on hotspots along the fire’s edge to help slow its spread.
Other fires of interest:
The Nakochelik Fire (#306) is 100% contained. Smokejumpers are working their way 50 feet in from the perimeter to find any remaining hotspots, put them out and secure the line.
The Sardine Fire (#285) was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. on June 20, and the Snowball Fire (#286) was reported about 9 a.m. the following day. Both fires were about 10 miles north of Council and both were caused by lightning. Fire managers wanted to respond to the Sardine Fire when it was reported, but were unable to do so due to the late hour and lack of available resources. Careful monitoring of both fires has shown no heat and no smoke over the past several days.
A wetter, cooler weather pattern is forecast for western Interior Alaska over the next few days with some areas expected to receive 1/2 inch of rain or more. There’s a chance of thunderstorms across the region, however, which could bring lightning.
-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 