Bonanza Creek Fire (#238): 11,894 acres
Goldstream Creek Fire (#270): 17,080 acres
Personnel: 295
Evacuation levels were updated on Friday, July 5, by the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
🔴 Level 3 “GO!”:
- Parks Highway MP 312-333 and MP 338-340 south of the Parks Highway is now in GO! status – all residences within a one-mile minimum radius of the highway, including the Little Goldstream Creek area. See map for more details.
🟡 Level 2 “SET”:
- Parks Highway MP 309-312 and MP 333-338 is now in SET.
🟢 Level 1 “READY”:
- Parks Highway MP 305-309 and from Sled Road to the boundary of Fairbanks North Star Borough, which extends 4.5 miles, and 7 miles north of the Alaska Railroad, encompassing Standard Creek Road to include the timber harvest access areas.
Evacuation shelters have been set up by the Alaska Red Cross at Hutchison High School in Fairbanks, and at the Nenana Student Living Center. They provide a bed or cot, blanket, bathroom, shower, and communal place to cook. For evacuation and sheltering assistance, call 907-888-5036.
An emergency animal shelter for evacuees is staffed by FNSB Animal Control at 3175 Peger Road. Please call ahead to let staff know your needs.
A clean air room is being set up at Noel Wien Library for those affected by smoke. It will be open during regular library hours.
The command of the fire has transitioned to the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team 2 from the Georgia Forestry Commission Type 3 IMT as of 7 am on Monday July 7.
Fire Weather: Sunday morning and into the afternoon continued to be hot and dry, however, the evening brought light thunderstorms and cooler temperatures to both the Bonanza Creek Fire and Goldstream Creek Fire. A shift in the weather pattern is expected Monday, with cloud cover and light morning rain increasing to widespread precipitation by the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds will continue 6–8 mph in the valleys and up to 11 mph along ridgetops, which may still challenge containment efforts despite the incoming moisture.
Bonanza Creek Fire (#238): The Midnight Sun Hotshots continued firing operations along the south side of the Parks Highway at MP 333 to prevent the fire from advancing toward the roadway. Dozer lines along Bonanza Creek Road’s southern flank are holding, with most growth occurring on the fire’s western edge in black spruce. Aerial drone operations are being used to gather fire behavior intel and guide efforts to tie containment lines into the Tanana River.
Goldstream Creek Fire (#270): The fire saw additional growth along its eastern perimeter overnight Sunday into Monday. Crews remain focused on protecting structures along the fire’s western perimeter. If weather conditions allow, burnout operations will continue to protect structures along the Parks Highway and the Little Goldstream Creek area. Heavy equipment, including dozers, is being used to construct and reinforce firebreaks near structures and along the fire’s west edge on the north side of the highway between MP 317 and 319.
Road Impacts: Expect significant delays on the Parks Highway. Heavy smoke and active fire are affecting the highway. The Alaska Department of Transportation is assisting firefighting efforts with flaggers and pilot cars, but escorts are intermittent and unscheduled. Please drive with extreme caution, watch for pilot cars, and be ready for long waits. Check ahead for road conditions at 511.alaska.gov.
Fire personnel are working hard at all hours of the day to protect homes and limit fire spread. Drive slowly and pay attention to firefighter safety and yours.
Power Outages: Power remains off in areas affected by the Nenana Ridge Complex fires for firefighter safety. Crews are working close to powerlines and using aerial resources extensively, so electricity cannot be safely restored until fire activity decreases. There is currently no estimated time for restoration.
More information: Follow Alaska Wildland Fire Information (akfireinfo.com) and updates on social media (facebook.com/AK.Forestry).
Public Information Line: 907-331-0454 -Email:2025.nenanaridgecomplex@firenet.gov
Watch the July 7 Nenana Ridge Complex Operations Briefing.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 