Firefighters continue to make progress on a pair lightning-caused fires in the Galena Zone.
The Duck Fire (#379) on the northwest shore of the Imuruk Basin about 26 miles east of Teller is 90% contained Saturday. The fire, which was reported Friday morning, is estimated at 86 acres. Smokejumpers are working today to extinguish hotspots and reinforce the saw line to keep the fire in its current footprint.
The Shiliak Fire (#374) about 25 miles northeast and across the water from Kotzebue is holding at 20% contained on Saturday. It is estimated at 20 acres with no increase in size reported. Today, a helicopter that has been dropping water on the fire will deliver pumps and hose to the smokejumpers on the ground. The smokejumpers intend to have the pumps and hose set up around the fire’s edge by the end of today’s shift.
Both the Duck Fire and the Shiliak Fire are being fought using a containment/control strategy due to the potential threats they pose to allotments and other values at risk.
Western Alaska continues to see hot, dry weather with high temperatures in the 80s. The Galena Zone recorded 126 lightning strikes on Friday without much precipitation. A detection flight is planned for today to search for any new starts.
-BLM-
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Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 