The Council of Athabaskan Tribal Governments Type 2 wildland firefighting crew and the Paradise Valley Type 2 hand crew arrived in Central on Sunday to help fight the fires that make up the Ptarmigan Complex.
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 the burned in 2004, which has slowed their growth. The Birch Fire (#256) located northwest of the village of Circle that has been added to the complex.
Significant fires in the area:
Turtle Fire (#243) – Fire behavior moderated Sunday due to a change in fuel type, higher humidity, and lower temperatures. Firefighters prepped two structures around Mile 139 and two structures near the Birch Creek Bridge. In the evening, Smokejumpers and a helicopter crew conducted a successful firing operation along the west flank of the fire about a quarter mile from Birch Creek to remove an area of unburned vegetation located between Mile 137 and Mile 142. The fire will be flown and monitored every day as weather and smoke conditions allow.
Deadwood Fire (#214) – The Black Hills Wildland Fire Module and a fire suppression module from the National Park Service worked to secure the fire’s edge. The fire is 100% out in the area that crossed Deadwood Road. There has been no increase in the size of the fire for the past two days and minimal heat remains in the interior. It was considered contained at the end of shift yesterday. Today, firefighters will continue to grid and mop up until the fire is out. Crews will also evaluate the possibility of opening an existing dozer line, put in during a fire in 2004, as a future defensive strategy for the communities of Central and Circle Hot Springs.
Ketchem Fire (#240) – There was no growth or smoke observed on this fire for the past two days and it is considered contained. Crews will grid and mop up until the fire is out.
Alligator Fire (#265) – There was increased activity observed throughout the day Sunday. The fire is about 800 acres and is 75% active. It continues actively back toward the hills to the north and is burning in an area north of the Steese Highway that burned in 2004. It is 3.5 miles north of Central.
Birch Fire (#256) – The fire is burning 3.5 miles northwest of the village of Circle and is approximately 2,000 acres. Firefighters will continue prepping and identifying and structures in the area.
Little Mosquito Fire (#241) – No activity was observed on this fire Sunday. It will be in monitor status.
-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 