Firefighters have made substantial progress protecting more homes and structures from the Himalaya Road Fire (#223) in the vicinity of Upper Haystack Drive, where charred forest continues to smolder and residents remain under Level 2 “Set” evacuation orders.
On Friday, firefighters and heavy equipment operators completed the fuel break off of Leuthold Drive. Hand crews doused flames and mopped up burned areas while dozers widened and connected fuel breaks. Masticators cleared vegetation and enhanced fuel breaks on Himilaya Road and Elliott Highway. Helicopters and scoopers dropped water on a hot spot near Glacier Creek and performed additional aerial surveys over the Himalaya Road Fire (#223), the Aggie Creek (#268) and Washington Creek (#232) fires.
On the Himalaya Road Fire today, firefighters will continue to improve existing fuel breaks. Crews will work off Elliott Highway, north of Yogi Drive, to build direct line near Glacier Creek. Firefighters will patrol and mop up the fire edge near homes north of Middle Fork Road while masticators will remove vegetation to reduce fuels along Elliott Highway should the fire move southwest. Crews will continue to monitor the Aggie Creek Fire for increased activity, reduce fuels along access routes and contingency lines and continue to protect structures. Firefighters will respond to any new flareups as needed.
The warming and drying trend increases through the weekend with steady humidity around 40% and a chance for afternoon thunderstorms.
For smoke and air quality go to https://www.airnow.gov/. No road closures reported near the Himalaya Road, Aggie Creek or Washington Creek Fires. Check https://511.alaska.gov/map for road conditions.
Level 1 “READY,” and Level 2 “SET,” evacuations are in effect for these fires. Visit https://bit.ly/FNSBevac for current evacuation levels.
Drivers are urged to be alert, go slow and watch out for heavy equipment working along Elliott Highway and other roads. Stay out of the active fire area. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place. Do not fly drones over the fire area; if you fly, we can’t. Unauthorized drone use poses serious risks to firefighter and public safety
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 
