Fire activity was minimal within the Himalaya Road Fire (#223), Aggie Creek Fire (#268) and Obrien Fire (#172) yesterday. Cooler and wetter conditions are moving into the area starting today and are expected to continue through Wednesday. Containment levels increased on the Aggie Creek Fire to 5%and on the Himalaya Road Fire to 19%.
Numbers:
Aggie Creek Fire (#268): 35,146 acres, 5% contained
Himalaya Road Fire (#223): 6,194 acres, 19% contained
Obrien Fire (#172): 8,125 acres, 0% contained
Operations: Additional containment was established along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline on the Aggie Creek Fire, bringing the total containment on the fire up to 5%. A Type 1 Wildfire Suppression Module was inserted along the Chatanika River near Murphy Dome Road boat launch to support structure assessment and protection measures south of the Aggie Creek Fire. Direct and indirect line construction was completed along the ridge south of Washington Creek. Aircraft surveillance using infrared imagery remains an effective tool for monitoring areas for heat on the Aggie Creek and Himalaya Road fires. Excavators, followed by hand crews are exposing and extinguishing heat concealed within large berms, while crews continue to patrol, secure, and mop up where needed on the Himalaya Road Fire. Crews are inventorying and backhauling excess equipment from Aggie Creek and Himalaya Road fires.
Weather: Temperatures are expected today in the lower 70s, with showers and increased cloud cover. A cold front will roll in Sunday night into Monday with widespread rain and wind gusts ranging from 25-30 mph. Expect cooler and wetter conditions to continue through Wednesday.
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 