Cooler, wetter weather settled over the Elephant Fire (#225) yesterday, bringing much-needed precipitation across the area. The Cherokee Hotshots scouted the southern edge of the fire and finalized a strategy to secure that portion of the perimeter. Work will begin in that area today, if weather allows. Meanwhile, the North Star Type 2 hand crew continued work on securing the eastern edge of the fire where it jumped across Minook Creek, cold trailing and clearing out any lingering hot spots. Cold trailing is a mop-up technique where firefighters carefully feel the ground with their hands to check for and extinguish hidden heat along the fireline, ensuring it is fully out and poses no further threat. In addition, smoke jumpers worked to secure the fire edge around structures in the northeastern corner of the fire.
The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has reduced the evacuation status from Level 2 “Set” to Level 1 “Ready” for Eureka and residences along the Eureka-Rampart Trail due to successful firefighting efforts and improving fire conditions. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity have reduced the immediate threat, but the fires are not out. Fire activity continues, fuels remain and weather can change quickly. Residents should stay alert, remain prepared to evacuate and understand that levels may increase again if fire behavior intensifies.
The Lush Fire (#199) also received precipitation late yesterday, which helped to moderate fire activity. Firefighters continued to secure and improve firelines around structures and Alaska Native Allotments along the south and eastern edges of the fire. In the northern portion of the fire, crews conducted a small-scale tactical burnout operation to bolster protection measures around a structure. Fire managers conducted a reconnaissance flight around the area yesterday afternoon and reported no new starts. Today, crews will take advantage of the favorable weather and reduced fire activity to backhaul equipment and assess Alaska Native Allotments north of the fire for possible future action. They will also begin construction of control lines close to the fire’s edge, if weather permits.
A community meeting will be held in Rampart today at 2:00 pm to provide updates and information about the fire.
Today’s weather across the area is expected to remain favorable for moderating fire behavior, with cooler temperatures, light winds, and scattered afternoon showers
Overall, fire managers are monitoring 45 other fires in the Tanana Zone and will staff those fires if conditions warrant.
-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 