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Ninetyeight Fire receives rain; Smokejumpers continue to make progress

By BLM Alaska Fire Service on June 24, 2025

The Ninetyeight Fire (#218), which is burning north of the Salcha River, received wetting rain Monday, and the fire showed decreased activity overall. Rain will likely continue on and off for the next few days.

Smokejumpers made good progress Monday protecting structures and Alaska Native allotments. They completed the setup of hoses, sprinklers, and pumps around nearly all structures near Mile 34 and between Miles 37-38. They’ve also implemented protective measures around allotments in the area.

Smokejumpers plan to continue with protection of the last few structures near Mile 34 and between Miles 37-38, and will work to establish a line around the fire. The Big River Crew, an Alaska contract crew, is arriving today to join the smokejumpers.

A Type 3 incident management team assumes command of the fire on Wednesday.

A Level 2 (SET) Evacuation remains in effect for the Middle Salcha River Miles 33-52. Fairbanks North Star Borough issued the Level 2 alert Friday night due to the proximity of structures to the Ninetyeight Fire. If there is a drastic change in current and expected fire direction, residents and visitors need to be prepared to evacuate.

The evacuation map and other information can be found on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations website.

Text WILDFIRES to 67283 to receive text notifications or go to: smart911.com

Trees and vegetation are seen in the foreground with a river curving from right to left through the middle of the photo. Wildfire smoke rises into the air from the ground in the middle of the photo. — Smoke from the Ninetyeight Fire burning north of the Salcha River is seen from the air on June 22, 2025. *Karilynn Putt, BLM Alaska Fire Service*

-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.