The containment line around the Otter Fire (#344) about 50 miles northeast of Venetie passed the Red Flag test Wednesday.
Twelve smokejumpers and five helitack crewmembers patrolled the fire throughout the day, working at least 100 feet in from the perimeter. They searched for any remaining hotspots and found no threats to the containment line. All firefighters will be demobilized tomorrow so they can get ready for their next assignment.
The Cherokee Hotshots and a dozen smokejumpers – supported by water drops from helicopters and scooper planes – reached 60% containment on the Fortymile Fire (#355). The fire is still about 25 miles northwest of Beaver. It was caused by lightning.
The ground along the western edge of the fire is marshy and damp, naturally reducing fire activity. The eastern edge, however, is “high and dry,” so most of the work is focused there. Firefighters cut about a mile of saw line Wednesday along the eastern edge. They were able to get around the head of the fire, but estimate that they still have about three miles of line to cut before they get around the current perimeter.
The Upper Yukon Zone, like most of Interior Alaska, is expected to see continued hot, dry weather over the next several days. The potential for new fires remains high, and any new starts could grow rapidly due to dry fuels, wind, and high temperatures.
-BLM-
Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM in Alaska? Visit our Flickr channel!
Learn more at www.blm.gov/Alaska, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 