The Wyoming Incident Management Team will hold a community meeting at 1 p.m., July 15, at the Ambler School (109 Ambler Drive, Ambler, AK 99786). Fire mangers will discuss updates for the Goldrun Complex and be available to answer questions.
Today, the Onion Fire (#433) was added to the eight fires already within the Goldrun Complex, which were started by lightning in the Kobuk Valley between Ambler and Kiana. With the addition of the Onion Fire and the continued growth seen yesterday due to extreme fire behavior, the total acreage for the complex is now 25,109 acres. Wetter weather is expected this week, and should reduce fire activity. This will aid efforts to protect allotments, structures and other values at risk. Northwestern Alaska has not received significant precipitation since late June.
The Kaliguricheark Fire (#410), which burned through the Kobuk Fire (#411) on Saturday, continued to exhibit extreme fire behavior including group torching of trees and long-distance spotting to the north. This increased the fires acreage to 8,793 acres. The Silver City Hotshots from New Mexico and 10 smokejumpers will continue to provide protection for sites identified as values at risk along the Kobuk River. These measures include the installation of hose, water pumps, and sprinklers, along with the removal of brush near structures or around Alaska Native allotments.
The Onion Fire (#433) is estimated to be 639 acres. The 12 smokejumpers and the 20-person BLM Type 2 contract K-River 1 crew are working on the ground to continue to provide point protection around allotments and other values at risk while single-engine airplane scoopers dropping water to help slow the progression of the fire.
The Nuna Fire (#420) is still actively burning on its northern perimeter. The eight smokejumpers assigned to the fire continue to provide point protection for allotments, structures, and other values at risk. The Nuna Fire remains the largest in the complex at 10,152 acres.
The Tutuksuk Fire (#424) continues to show extreme fire behavior and has now burned 5,402 acres. Continued growth is expected along the northern perimeter; the fire will be monitored at this time to ensure allotments and other sites of values are not put at risk.
The Hunt (#409) continues to smolder and yesterday had some single-tree torching. The Salmon Fire (#423) is being monitored for potential threats to values at this time. The Jade (#407) and Karet (#408) fires are contained and controlled. These fires are in monitor status at this time.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a smoke advisory for the northwest Interior. Air quality will vary between GOOD and VERY UNHEALTHY in the region. The advisory is in effect from today through Monday afternoon for the western Interior south of the Brooks Range. The smoke advisory can be found at: https://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/Advisories/ and for more information on air quality, populations at risk, and health and safety please go to the Alaska Wildland Fire Information website: https://akfireinfo.com/smoke-management/.
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Categories: Active Wildland Fire
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 