Three fires are being staffed in the Upper Yukon Zone, including a new start, the Doll Fire (#454) which was discovered on July 14, the Tiozhavun Fire (#448), and the Polly Fire (#435).
Doll Fire (#454) – Reported on July 14 to be 9 acres and located 8 miles northwest of Stevens Village. The fire is bordered by water features, burning in tussock, black spruce, tundra, and hardwood. At 8 p.m. eleven smokejumpers and four water scoopers from Fairbanks were dispatched for initial attack operations. Fire growth was halted with the assistance of air resources, and smokejumpers on the ground made excellent progress in containing a spot fire and cutting out pockets of heat.
Fire behavior was reported as moderate with backing and creeping, with precipitation actively falling during the evening. Resources are expected to complete a majority of the containment today and then engage in mop up on July 16.
Tiozhavun Fire (#448) – The fire is 25 acres and was discovered 10 miles south of Fort Yukon by an Alaska Fire Service detection flight just before 9 p.m. on July 13. Initial attack efforts by smokejumpers and water scoopers stopped the forward progress of the fire that same evening. The fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy, burning in an old fire scar with a heavy component of dead and down logs plus spruce and brush. The Olympic Wildland Fire Module arrived to the fire yesterday, having been mobilized from the Tsukon Fire (#382). The module began working on the right flank of the fire as smokejumpers continued on the left flank. The fire has been completely encircled by pumps and hose, including a 1 acre spot fire that was identified on the east side of the fire. Additionally, a type 2 handcrew has been ordered to assist in containment efforts and to relieve smokejumpers for initial attack availability. Fire behavior was moderate, with isolated torching on the interior of the fire
Polly Fire (#435 ) – The fire is located approximately 34 miles south of Eagle, near the Taylor Highway and Fortymile River. Smokejumpers and Vale Helitack completed point protection on the closest values at risk on the evening of July 13. They will continue along the Fortymile River, assessing structures and property. Point protection includes the set up of pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and removal of fuels. Vale Helitack will begin demobilization from the incident in the evening. The fire experienced limited growth as precipitation persisted through most of the night. The fire is estimated at 300 acres, and has progressed to the bottom one third of the Steele Creek drainage to the north. The perimeter remains approximately 1.5 miles away from the Taylor Highway, directly east of milepost 108.
A travel advisory was issued for travelers on July 13 and 14 for milepost 100 to milepost 115 on the Taylor Highway due to low visibility from smoke and the proximity of the fire to the highway. There are currently no closures or evacuations for the area. Although recent rain has moderated fire behavior, travelers are still advised to use caution on the Taylor Highway and avoid the area if possible.
–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 