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Weather conditions aid firefighters on the Lush and Elephant Fires

By BLM Alaska Fire Service on July 15, 2025

The Elephant Fire (#225) located approximately 5 miles north of the Eureka Highway, showed minimal fire activity again yesterday. There was creeping and smoldering observed within the fire perimeter. The total fire acreage remains at 8,941 acres. Yesterday, the fire received a couple hours of precipitation. Scattered storms are anticipated today along with gusty southwesterly winds. Smokey conditions are anticipated to improve over the next couple days. Behind these storms is high pressure system that will develop Wednesday with warmer and drier conditions expected again Thursday into the weekend.

Yesterday, firefighters completed securing line in the Minook Creek drainage and pulled water hose off of that line. Today, the North Star Fire Crew will go back over areas with structures along Minook Creek and the Euerka Rampart Road to ensure they are mitigated for any potential risk. Firefighters will access what supplies can be backhauled off of the fire area.

A Level 1 “Ready” evacuation notice remains in effect for Eureka and the surrounding area. Residents should stay alert and prepared in case conditions change.

The Lush Fire (#199) remains 26,585 acres in size and islocated on the north side of the Yukon River across from Rampart. The fire received two brief periods of precipitation yesterday. In places where the terrain and wind aligned, creeping and backing fire behavior were observed. Cloudy skies and numerous rain showers are anticipated today. Cooler temperatures and potentially gusty and erratic winds are in the forecast near thunderstorms.

Image shows firefighters unloading their gear off of three boats that were used to shuttle equipment and boats from Rampart across the Yukon River to the Lush Fire (#199). — *Using boats to shuttle equipment and firefighters across the Yukon River has been an important part of firefighting operations on the Lush Fire (#199). Kyle Miller, Wyoming Hotshots, July 5, 2025*

Today, firefighters will continue working on the northern edge of the fire to prevent any potential spread north to a cluster of Alaska Native Allotments. They will use a combination of working direct on the fire and will also use natural landscape features to secure the fire. Crews will also work to secure and mop up around structures on the southern and eastern edge of the fire.

Overall, fire managers are monitoring 45 other fires in the zone and will staff those fires if conditions warrant. For a printable version of today’s update, please CLICK HERE.

-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.