The Lush Fire (#199) is 26,544 acres, a slight reduction in sized due to more accurate mapping. The fire is located in the north side of the Yukon River, across from Rampart. Yesterday, the fire received intermittent patchy rain in the morning, before switching into a light and steady rain all afternoon. There was no notable fire activity yesterday. Today’s weather is anticipated to be another cool, wet day with scattered showers in the morning. Winds will remain light and out of the southwest until shifting to the northeast in the afternoon.
Yesterday, firefighters worked on a chainsaw line that will be tied in to natural barriers to limit the fire’s growth towards a cluster of Alaska Native Allotments. This work will continue over the next couple of shifts. On the south and east flanks of the fire, crews will continue to identify opportunities for direct line construction to protect values at risk.
The Elephant Fire (#225) is located approximately 5 miles north of the Eureka Highway and the total acreage remains at 8,941 acres. Recent precipitation has greatly moderated fire behavior to minimal activity with limited smoldering. Consistent rain occurred over the fire area yesterday and will continue this morning before mostly ending this afternoon. Thursday’s weather will be drier and warmer overall, but there will remain a chance for showers.
Firefighters are continuing to develop a comprehensive structure protection plan for the community of Eureka and the Minook Creek drainage. They will continue to grid and check for any areas of remaining heat to mitigate future risk.
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.
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.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 