Home › Active Wildland Fire › Ninetyeight Fire grows towards the north and west; Firefighters gain containment near structures

Ninetyeight Fire grows towards the north and west; Firefighters gain containment near structures

By BLM Alaska Fire Service on July 4, 2025

A Red Flag Warning issued yesterday by the National Weather Service has been extended through 10:00 p.m. Friday, July 4^th due to hot, dry, and windy conditions expected across the Central and Eastern Interior Wednesday. This will combine with very dry surface fuels resulting in critical fire weather conditions.

The Ninetyeight Fire (#218) remained active yesterday under continued hot and dry conditions. It is now 10,544 acres in size, with some growth to the north and west. On the southwest side, the fire is burning in hardwoods, which has moderated fire spread. Yesterday scooper aircraft and helicopters conducted water drops on the southwest corner from Salcha to the boundary of military land to assist hotshots in keeping that portion of the fire in check.

Firefighters continued mop-up efforts on the eastern perimeter while helicopter bucket drops worked to cool interior hot spots and suppress flare-ups. Structure protection and mop-up operations continued from Mile 31 to Mile 42 along the control lines.

Thanks to these coordinated efforts, firefighters have successfully kept the fire north of the Salcha River Firefighters have gained containment on the southern edge of the fire near structures between Miles 36 and 40. Today, crews will continue implementing the same tactical plan, anticipating another day of high temperatures, low humidity, and increasing winds.

Aerial view of smoke rising from the ground near a burn scar in a forested area — Aerial view of the Ninetyeight Fire taken during a reconnaissance flight on July 2, 2025. The fire has grown towards the north and west in the past two days. *Justen Johansen*

Map of the perimeter of the Ninetyeight Fire including evacuation zones — Map of Ninetyeight Fire as of July 4, 2025

The Bureau of Land Management has issued fire restrictions throughout the district. For more information, visit the BLM Alaska Fire Restrictions webpage or contact BLM at (907) 474-2200.

The Middle and Lower Salcha River in the Salcha River Corridor remain at Level 2 “SET”, which means be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. The Upper Salcha River evacuation level remains at Level 1 “READY”. Level 1 means “BE READY” for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of danger in their area and monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. The evacuation map and other information can be found on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations website.

Text WILDFIRES to 67283 to receive text notifications or go to: smart911.com

View printable PDF of update