Firefighters made significant progress yesterday on the Elephant Fire (#225) north of Eureka, continuing a complex defensive firing operation to eliminate the light, flashy fuels that have been driving fire spread. This controlled burnout operation is being used to protect structures on the northeastern portion of the fire. Firefighters also monitored and improved sprinkler systems around cabins to enhance defensible space. Hotshot crews constructed containment line on the active fire edge in the Minook Creek drainage. Today, crews will begin line construction along the fire’s southern edge near Eureka and continue structure protection throughout the fire area.
A Level 2 “Set” evacuation notice remains in effect for residents in Eureka and residences along the Eureka-Rampart Trail due to the Elephant fire. Residents are encouraged to follow the Alaska State Troopers Facebook page for the most immediate notification of evacuation changes.
Yesterday, hot, dry and windy conditions led to another day of elevated fire activity on the Lush Fire (#199) north of Rampart. Southwest winds led to continued fire growth to the northeast. Lack of visibility limited the ability of crews to utilize any fixed-wing resources to slow fire spread. Helicopters with buckets were used to support hand crews and continue protection of values at risk. Diligent work by firefighters continued to limit impacts to any resources on the south and east side of the fire. Today’s operations will focus on securing Alaska Native Allotments and structures on the fire’s southeast perimeter. In addition, fire managers plan to conduct reconnaissance flights to assess the fire growth to the north and check for any new starts that may have occurred as a result of the abundant lightning that was experienced around the area last night.
Overall, fire managers are monitoring 45 other fires in the Tanana Zone and will staff those fires if conditions warrant. For a printable PDF 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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Learn more at http://www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook.
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 