There was no significant fire growth on the Elephant Fire (#225) yesterday. Firefighters took advantage of the favorable conditions to strengthen control lines and backhaul unneeded equipment out of the fire area. Today, crews will continue to work on securing the Minook Creek Road corridor on the eastern edge of the fire. Meanwhile, fire personnel plan to assess the areas surrounding the fire to develop contingency plans in the event the fire begins to move again or a new start occurs. There is a well-developed plan in place for current operations, and crews will continue working to implement that strategy throughout the day.
A Level 1 “Ready” evacuation notice remains in effect for residents in Eureka and along the Eureka-Rampart Trail area due to the Elephant Fire. Residents should stay alert, remain prepared to evacuate and understand that levels may increase again if fire behavior intensifies.
Conditions also remained favorable on the Lush Fire (#199) yesterday, and it remained within its current perimeter. Today, crews will focus on clearing vegetation and creating defensible space around the group of Alaska Native Allotments north of the current fire area. In addition, firefighters will continue mopping up and securing around the structures and Alaska Native Allotments along the southern and eastern edges of the fire. Personnel will also conduct a reconnaissance flight over the south side of the Yukon River to check for any potential holdover fires from the lightning storm that passed through three days ago.
High pressure is beginning to build across the Eastern Interior, bringing warmer and drier weather to the area. Today, temperatures will be in the 70s with light and variable wind. There is a chance of isolated thunderstorms throughout the weekend.
Overall, fire managers are monitoring 40 other fires in the Tanana Zone and will staff those fires if conditions warrant. Please CLICK HERE for a printable PDF of this update.
-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 