Bonanza Creek Fire (#238): 12,554 acres
Goldstream Creek Fire (#270): 20,535 acres
Personnel: 555
Evacuation Information
Evacuation levels were updated on Thursday, July 10th, by the Fairbanks North Star Borough and the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
🔴 Level 3 “GO!”:
- Outside the Borough: From the borough’s western edge, 4.5 miles west; from Sled Road north for 7 miles from the Alaska Railroad. This includes Standard Creek Road and nearby timber harvest access areas.
- Inside the Borough: Parks Highway corridor MP 316.5–338, as well as MP 338–341 south of the highway is in ‘GO!’ status. This includes all residences within at least a one-mile radius of the highway.
🟡 Level 2 “SET”:
- Outside the Borough: Parks Highway MP 309-316.5 is in level 2 ‘SET’, extending west of the highway to include homes along Little Goldstream Road, agricultural areas, and the Alaska Railroad. Extending east of the highway to include homes and agricultural areas north of Little Goldstream Creek.
- Inside the Borough: The Standard Cache zone including the middle portion of Standard Creek Road and the beginning of Cache Creek Road is in level 2 ‘SET’.
🟢 Level 1 “READY”:
- Outside the Borough: Parks Highway MP 305-309 is in Level 1 ‘READY’.
- Inside the Borough: MP 338 to 351 north of the Parks Highway, as well as the Old Nenana Highway, east end of Standard Creek Road, Old Ridge Trail, and Equinox Trail encompassing Cache Creek Road are also in Level 1 ‘READY’.
Evacuation shelters in both Nenana and Fairbanks have closed. Shelter options for both people and animals will be provided again if they are needed due to evacuations or fire behavior. Call Fairbanks North Star Borough at 907-459-1308 for additional information.
Fire Weather: Sunday saw light winds across the complex, with highs of 72-80 degrees. There was limited surface spread of fire in some areas of spruce, with areas of short-range spotting and single tree torching. There is a chance of some rain on Monday, with a high around 72 degrees, increased winds and possible thunderstorms. In preparation for possible new starts due to lightning, a group of fire resources have been designated to be ready for an initial attack response. This is forecast to be a short period of wetter weather, with a return to drier conditions later this week, which could amplify fire activity.
Goldstream Creek Fire (#270):
Crews have been methodically “cold trailing” or locating hidden heat in the duff and heavy fuels, from the Parks Highway, working their way into the interior of the fire area. Any heat they find must be “mopped up” by digging it out and dousing it with water. On the northeast area of the fire, where crews couldn’t plumb with pumps and hose lays, they were supported by a helicopter doing water drops. On the west side, crews completed a combination of dozer line and handline from the Parks Highway to Twomile Lake. Crews also protected wooden bridges on AK Division of Forestry & Fire Protection lands north of the fire.
Bonanza Creek Fire (#238):
While crews on foot are moving off the Parks Highway and into more remote areas of the fire, engines will remain along the highway to patrol, supply water, protect structures and continue to secure this area. The White Mountain Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, along with other crews, will be working on the northeast side of the fire mopping up hotspots. Crews have made headway building dozer line in the critical area along the utility coridore, consisting of both powerline and fiber optic cable.
Road Safety:
With continued support from the additional surge resources loaned from nearby fires, Alaska Incident Management Team 2 is moving closer to the goal of not requiring traffic control on the Parks Highway due to the fires. Traffic will continue to be guided by pilot cars during the day. Overnight they will be operating in both directions simultaneously between Mile Posts 318.5 and 335.5 from 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM. Please help keep firefighters and other motorists safe by following flagger instructions and staying behind the pilot car. For current road status, visit 511.alaska.gov.
More Information
For a PDF version of this update, click here.
For official updates, visit Alaska Wildland Fire Information at akfireinfo.com or follow facebook.com/AK.Forestry.
For the interactive Alaska Wildland Fire Information Map Series go here: https://arcg.is/1a0yT03
For video briefings and more fire-related content from the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AlaskaDNRDOF
Public Information Line: (907) 331-0454
Email: 2025.nenanaridgecomplex@firenet.gov
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 