Crews continue to make good progress towards containment efforts on the 1,779 acre Oskawalik Fire (#122) 9 miles south of Crooked Creek. Today, crews will continue working towards full containment as they continue gridding for hotspots along the fire’s perimeter. Gridding requires firefighters to move through the burned area slowly and methodically, while utilizing their hands to locate any residual heat that may be hiding in hard to see areas. Once a hot spot is found during the gridding process, firefighters utilize hand tools and water from helicopter drops or hose lays to soak the area, making sure the fuels are cool to the touch before moving across the fire area. Gridding is dirty, time-consuming work but vital to ensure the fire is out and containment increases.
Aviation resources continue to be a vital component to the firefighting operations as crews use helicopters to backhaul surplus fire equipment to Crooked Creek for refurbishment. In addition, fresh food boxes are being flown to the fire line to ensure firefighters have healthy foods and quality calories to complete the rigorous firefighting work still ahead of them. As the containment increase on the fire, managers will begin to right size the operation and release crews for some much needed rest and relaxation.
Firefighting assets will continue to be visible near the fire area and the community of Crooked Creek as aviation supports the firefighting operations and boats continue to use the Kuskokwim River to transport firefighters along the eastern perimeter for mop up and gridding.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 