Rain fell over all three fires yesterday. Structure protection is complete in areas immediately threatened by the Himalaya Road Fire (#223), Aggie Creek Fire (#268) and Obrien Fire (#172). Crews are nearing completion of indirect lines south of Aggie Creek Fire and the Mount Taylor Hotshot crew is assessing the feasibility of direct line construction along the fire’s southern perimeterwhile fire behavior is minimal. Structure assessments were completed yesterday along the Elliott Highway west of Obrien Fire, and a structure protection plan will be developed today.
Numbers:
Aggie Creek Fire (#268): 35,146 acres, 2% contained
Himalaya Road Fire (#223): 6,194 acres, 12% contained
Obrien Fire (#172): 8,125 acres, 0% contained
Operations: Indirect line was nearly completed yesterday at the Aggie Creek Fire, where heavy equipment was removed to avoid damaging the landscape. The Obrien Fire remains monitored by air with no heat observed yesterday. On the Himalaya Road Fire, crews continue to mop up where needed. An Unmanned Aerial System with infrared capability will be used to identify areas of residual heat along the fire’s perimeter. Fire managers released equipment from Haystack Road yesterday and this area has been placed in patrol status, as has the south side of Caribou Creek.
Weather: Light rain fell across the fires yesterday. Winds decreased overnight, and warmer, drier conditions are expected as the week progresses. Fire activity is expected to increase accordingly throughout the week, depending on the length of the drying period.
Smoke: For smoke outlook updates go to https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/e16e3fa2.
Closures: No road closures reported. Check https://511.alaska.gov/map for road conditions. Olnes Pond, the Whitefish Campground and the western portion of the White Mountains NRA are closed due to fire activity.
Evacuations: Level 1 “READY,” and Level 2 “SET,” evacuations are in effect for these fires. SET means be ready to evacuate on a moment’s notice. Visit https://bit.ly/FNSBevac for current evacuation levels.
Safety: Drivers must use extreme caution on Elliott Highway. Do not stop, be alert and watch out for firefighters working in the area. Smoke may limit visibility. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place. Do not fly drones over the fire area. Unauthorized drone use poses serious risks to firefighter and public safety.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 