Yesterday, fire behavior on the Lush Fire (#199) was active with small wind-driven runs, flanking, and backing. The most active area of the fire was on the southwest corner. Smokejumpers were inserted into that corner to construct direct line and keep fire out of the Alaska Native Allotments. Later in the day, helicopters with buckets and then water scoopers performed effective operations on this area. They were also utilized on the northern flank of the fire where areas of heat have been detected.
The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) was flown yesterday to check the effectiveness of firing operations and to check for any fire spots across the Yukon River. No spots of fire were detected in the Rampart area.
With weather conditions continuing to be warm and dry through the weekend, the fire is expected to remain active. Crews will continue to implement structure protection on the 19 Native Alaska Allotments and structures that are along the Yukon River corridor.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area and may be found at https://tinyurl.com/44y5pdky. Fire managers are working to make sure the TFR has as minimal impact on the community as possible. Approach and departures in to the Rampart airstrip are not affected.
On Wednesday, the Elephant Fire (#225) made an approximately 3 mile run southwest in the Granite Creek drainage. Structure protection was added to one cabin at risk, and previously installed sprinklers and pumps were tested. Today, firefighters will grid for areas of heat and check to see if there are any additional structure protection needs.
A firefighting crew was inserted Dugan Fire (#354) yesterday to join the eight smokejumpers already there. These firefighters will go deeper into the fire perimeter and address any areas of heat.
Overall, fire managers are monitoring 40 other fires in the Tanana Zone and will staff those fires if conditions warrant. For a printable version of today’s update, please CLICK HERE.
-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 