BLM AFS responds to increased fire activity

By BLM Alaska Fire Service on August 4, 2025

The Medicine Fire is burning about 17 miles southeast of Central and near the Birch Creek. It was estimated at 1,000 acres Monday afternoon. Photo by Adrienne Pierce, BLM AFS
The Medicine Fire is burning about 17 miles southeast of Central and near the Birch Creek. It was estimated at 1,000 acres Monday afternoon. Photo by Adrienne Pierce, BLM AFS

In response to a recent uptick in fire activity during a warm and dry weekend, BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers mobilized to three active fires over the past two days, including two new lightning-caused starts. They are focused on protecting Alaska Native allotments and remote cabins at risk from increased fire behavior.

While fire activity is expected to gradually decline through August due to shorter daylight hours and increasing moisture, the rapid growth of two new fires and continued activity on another serve as reminders that Alaska’s fire season is not yet over.

To date, 412 wildfires have burned more than 993,650 acres across the state, with 190 fires still active.

On Monday, four BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers were dispatched to the Medicine Fire (#484) to protect a cabin along Birch Creek. The wind-driven fire was estimated at approximately 1,000 acres and exhibited active fire behavior, including torching and running through black spruce fuels. Detected by satellite imagery Monday morning, the fire is located about 17 miles southeast of Central and a mile north of the 9,600-acre Buckley Bar Fire (#264), which is part of the Ptarmigan Complex. The Medicine Fire is believed to have been ignited by lightning that touched down in the area on Sunday. Firefighters had previously visited the cabin to complete structure protection work to protect it from the Buckley Bar Fire.

Also over the Sunday, four smokejumpers responded to the Black Sand Fire (#483), located approximately 32 miles north of Ruby, to protect a BLM-designated historic cabin. The fire, discovered Sunday, was estimated at 50 acres and is burning in a mix of spruce and tundra. The smokejumpers remain assigned to ensure continued protection of the site.

The Dash-8 aircraft that transported smokejumpers to the Black Sand Fire also deployed eight smokejumpers to the northeastern corner of the 72,000-acre Moldy Fire (#279) on Saturday, following a noticeable increase in fire activity. While this section is producing heavy smoke visible from Huslia, 6 miles to the east, the fire is largely held in place by natural barriers — namely a slough and marshy areas. However, it is burning through narrow stringers of spruce, raising concern about potential spotting across the slough. This active section is within a mile of Alaska Native allotments and a cabin.

To stop the threat, smokejumpers are cutting a fire break and using water to cool the fire’s edge until all heat is extinguished. Firefighters had previously installed structure protection in this area at the height of suppression efforts on the Moldy Fire, which is part of the Roundabout Complex, consisting of six fires near Huslia.

Fortunately, scattered rain showers are helping moderate fire behavior on both the Black Sand and Moldy fires. However, with more than 5,000 lightning strikes recorded on Sunday, there is continued concern that additional fires may emerge in the coming days. BLM AFS continues to monitor conditions closely and remains ready to respond to protect life, property, and identified values at risk.

For more information, contact BLM Alaska Fire Service Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510 or eipsen@blm.gov.

–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.