A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today due to a forecast calling for high temperatures, low humidity, and wind. These conditions are expected to cause increased fire activity and smoke across the Ptarmigan Complex as fuels become more receptive to fire and hotspots begin to show themselves.
Turtle Fire (#243) – With the strong winds and higher temperatures Wednesday there was increased activity on the eastern edge as well as in the southwest area of the fire late in the day. The fire put up a sizable smoke column as it made a 1.5 mile run in an area of mature black spruce in the southwest corner of the fire moving toward Birch Creek. During a recon flight last night, sensors were once again removed from a remote automatic weather station (RAWS) in case of fire impact. A recon flight with a thermal imaging device will be flown this morning and firefighters will go up river on Birch Creek to assess the fire’s progress overnight.
The Paradise Type 2 hand crew, and the Council of Athabaskan Tribal Governments Type 2 wildland firefighting crew are keeping pumps and hoses operational along the indirect line around an Alaska Native allotment boundary near Mile 148 on the Steese Highway.
Alligator Fire (#265) – The fire was more subdued than its neighbors on Wednesday. The Smith River Hotshots completed an initial saw cut, connecting it to the line built by the Alaska Range Module. Firefighters will continue to improve the line and mop up hotspots. Big Sky Helitack will patrol the east side looking for hotspots along the fire’s edge.
Birch Fire (#256) There was isolated torching in the middle of the western flank, within the indirect fire lines put in by The Black Hills Wildland Fire Module. They will patrol the containment lines in the north and check that there are not any spot fires burning toward the creek. No visible smoke is showing on the eastern flank.
The Deadwood Fire (#214) is in monitor status. The Ketchem Fire (#240) and Little Mosquito Fire (#241) are 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.
NOTAM #06/201 is in place for the Central Airport (CEM): Increased air traffic 5,000 ft MSL and below within a 20 nautical mile radius of the Central Airport (CEM) due to firefighting aviation operations.
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Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 