Firefighters used a thermal camera on a late afternoon reconnaissance flight to look for any heat or hotspots near the perimeters of fires in the Ptarmigan Complex on Friday. Heat was found mostly in forested areas with a closed canopy. Minimal heat was observed in open areas and mostly calm, wispy smoke was seen.
Turtle Fire (#243) – The Paradise Valley Type 2 hand crew and the Council of Athabaskan Tribal Governments Type 2 wildland firefighting crew installed the water-handling equipment Friday along an indirect fire line constructed by the Smith River Hotshots. Work will continue today by these Type 2 crews to prep the remaining indirect fire line and lay hoses along the Alaska Native allotment boundary near Mile 148 on the Steese Highway. Both the north and south flanks of the Turtle Fire continue to show signs of smoldering heat. The fire will be flown and monitored every day as weather and smoke conditions allow
Alligator Fire (#265) – Thermal imaging revealed the presence of continuous heat in the northwest shoulder of the fire in the hills where smokejumpers are working. The imaging also found isolated heat on the northeast shoulder and revealed some heat along a string of spruce trees near Albert Creek. Almost no smoke was showing in the lower third of the fire down in the flat areas closest to Central. Friday afternoon eight of the 12 smokejumpers working on the Alligator (#256) were redeployed to other incidents leaving four smokejumpers remaining on the fire.
The Smith River Hotshots will be flown in today to continue putting in line to provide point protection for the values at risk and putting out any hotspots found. The Alaska Range Module will continue to install hoses and pumps along the southern edge. The fire continues to burn in a full protection area.
Birch Fire (#256) – No visible smokes were seen on the eastern flank. Lingering smokes are still present between the western edge of the fire and Birch Creek. The Black Hills Wildland Fire Module is engaged on the north flank of the fire constructing line and laying hoses to provide point protection and putting out hotspots.
The Deadwood Fire (#214) and Little Mosquito Fire (#241) are in monitor status. The Ketchem Fire (#240) is out.
A Level 1 “Ready” Alert remains in effect for the community of Central, the Steese Highway from Milepost 123 to Milepost 151, Circle Hot Springs Road and Circle Hot Springs, and Deadwood Creek Road. Drivers should expect traffic delays on the Steese Highway, Circle Hot Springs Road, and Deadwood Creek Road due to firefighting operations. A Level 1 “Ready” alert means: begin preparing for a potential evacuation; make plans for family members with special needs, pets, or livestock; gather essential items such as prescriptions, important documents, and valuables; and stay alert and watch for updates from local authorities.
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-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 