Several escaped debris fires, burn barrels, unattended campfires and burned areas along Alaska highways, most likely caused by passing motorists, make up the majority of new fires this past week in the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) response area. In addition to those new fires, aerial reconnaissance of the Sawmill Creek Fire (#079) discovered a new spot north of the Gerstle River. The first week of June is forecast to be dryer and with temperatures reaching into the 70’s in parts of Southwest, Southcentral and the Interior. It just takes one spark to start a wildland fire. Be safe in all outdoor activities.
DFFP was alerted to a 100-by100-feet brush fire spreading in the area of Gas Well Road south of Soldotna on Monday, May 25th. Forestry and Central Emergency Services responded to the Charlie Brown Fire (#096) and reported a human caused .76-acre smoldering grass fire. Firefighters suppressed the fire and gridded the green, unburned area around the fire looking for additional hot spots. The burned area was cold trailed, a tactic used by wildland firefighters where they carefully inspect an area by removing their gloves and feel for hidden heat. The fire was declared contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. Forestry resources returned, checked the fire and reported no heat or visible smoke. The fire was called out Friday, May 29th.
Mat-Su Communications Public Safety Dispatch (MatCom) was notified of a 20-by-30-feet fire at the shooting range in the area of East Maud Road in Butte on Monday, May 25th. Forestry Helitack, engines and Butte Volunteer Fire Department responded to the Maud Fire (#097) and reported the fire burning in grass, hardwoods and torching trees. Helitack deployed its firefighters and started bucket drops along the fire’s edge as ground forces cut saw line and built hose lay around the fire. DFFP Mat-Su Type 2 Crew responded to assist in containing and controlling the human caused .57-acre fire. Mat-Su Crew removed hazardous trees along the perimeter and broke apart burning jackstraw piles of downed trees to extinguish hot spots. The crew conducted a grid search of the green area around the fire and found no heat or smoke. The fire was placed in monitor status.
Alaska State Troopers reported a small grass fire along the Sterling Highway in the area of Sabea Circle on Monday, May 25th. DFFP and Western Emergency Service Fire Department responded to the Sebea Fire (#098) a 15-by-2-feet grass fire. Responding resources extinguished the human caused fire and cold trailed the area. The fire was declared contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. Forestry returned to check the fire and found no heat or smoke and declared the fire out on Thursday, May 28th.
Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center (FECC) was notified of an unattended campfire off Becker Ridge Road in the area of Mariposa Lane on Monday, May 25th. Forestry and Chena-Goldstream Fire & Rescue responded to the Mariposa Fire (#099) and discovered an escaped campfire burning in leaf litter. Responding resources extinguished the 4-by-4-feet fire calling it contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. Forestry returned the next day and finding no heat or smoke called the fire out.
MatCom was notified of an outside fire in the area of the Jonesville Mine Road on Monday, May 25th. Forestry Helitack, engines, Pioneer Peak Hotshot Crew along with Palmer Fire and Rescue and Sutton Volunteer Fire Department responded to the Jonesville Fire (#100) burning in grass, black spruce and hardwoods with a 100% active perimeter. The 1.7-acre human caused fire was contained during the first operational period. It was controlled, placed in monitor status and declared out over the following days. For more information on the multi-day response please see the articles on AKFireInfo.com.
FECC was notified of a brush fire off Van Horn Road in the area of Truck Street on Tuesday, May 26th. Forestry and University Fire Department responded to the Truck Fire (#101) a 20-by-30-feet fire burning in grass. Responders extinguished the human caused fire declaring it contained, controlled and placed in monitor status.
A helicopter on reconnaissance of the Sawmill Creek Fire (#079) on Thursday, May 28th discovered smoke outside the perimeter on the north side of the Gerstle River. The helicopter landed and rigged its bucket to make water drops. A squad of Chugachmiut Yukon Type 2 Crew prepositioned in Delta Junction departed for the fire. Once on scene the small module reported the 30-by-40-feet spot to be about 1/8-mile north of the fire. They worked into the evening to secure the spot. The full Yukon Crew returned to fire Friday searching out and extinguishing all areas of heat in the new spot. After gridding the burned area, the spot was declared out at the end of the shift. The Sawmill Creek Fire remains in monitor status.
Forestry was notified of a fire in the village of Tanacross on Thursday, May 28th. Helitack, and engine and prevention responded to the Tanacross Fire (#103) and discovered a 0.1-acre frei creeping in hardwoods and spruce fuels. The human caused fire was extinguished by ground resources and declared contained, controlled and placed in monitor status.
MatCom was notified of an outside fire in the area of Bulchitna Lake on Thursday, May 28th. Forestry Helitack responded to the Yentna Fire (#104) and reported a 0.1-acre fire burning in grass, hardwoods and black spruce. Structures were in the area but not imminently threatened. Helitack deployed its firefighters started bucket operations. For additional information on the multi-day response to contain the human caused 4.2-acre fire please see the articles on AKFireInfo.com
The Anchorage Fire Department requested a DFFP mutual aid response for a fire spreading rapidly behind a house in Eagle River on Friday, May 29th. Helitack arrived over the Upper Canyon Fire (#106) and reported a creeping fire with a 60% active perimeter burning in grass and mixed hardwoods. Ground resources suppressed the human caused 0.14-acre fire, declaring it contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. Forestry resources returned to the fire Sunday and reported no areas of heat or visible smoke. The fire was declared out.
MatCom was notified of an outside fire in the area of Lakeshore Circle in Willow on Friday, May 29th. Willow Fire Department and Forestry responded to the Lakeshore Fire (#107) and discovered a 0.1-acre grass fire had been extinguished by the homeowner. No heat or visible smoke was found and the human caused fire was declared out.
MatCom was notified of a brush fire in the area of Winkler Way in Wasilla on Friday, May 29th. Central Mat-Su Fire Department and Forestry responded to the Winkler Fire (#108) burning in grass, brush and hardwoods with a 60% active perimeter. Responding resources extinguished the fire escaped from a burn barrel declaring the 1-acre fire contained, controlled and placed in monitor status.
The Anchorage Fire Department requested a Forestry mutual-aid response to a 40-by-40-feet fire spreading to the trees in the area of Commercial Drive in Anchorage on Friday, May 29th. Responders suppressed the Commercial Fire (#109) a human caused 0.25-acre fire burning in grass and hardwoods. The fire was declared contained, controlled and placed in monitor status.
The Chugiak Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department requested DFFP respond to a reported 10-feet-wide grass fire along the Glenn Highway near Mile Marker 29 on Friday, May 29th. Responding Forestry resources discovered a 2-by-2-feet burned area. Finding no heat or visible smoke the human caused Denaina Fire (#110) was called out.
Alaska State Troopers reported an outside fire in the area of Poppy Lane in Soldotna on Saturday, May 30th. Forestry responded to the Hardy Fire (#111) a 2-by-2-feet cardboard and brush fire with wildland involvement. The fire was suppressed, contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
FECC was notified of an outside fire spreading to the tree line in the area Venus Drive in North Pole on Saturday, May 30th. North Star Volunteer Fire Department and DFFP responded to the Venus Fire (#112) a 30-by-30-feet fire burning in mixed hardwoods and shrubbery. Responding resources suppressed the human caused fire declaring it contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
Troopers were notified of trees on fire in the area of Kim N Ang Street in Kenai on Saturday, May 30th. Central Emergency Services and Forestry responded to the Beaver Creek Fire (#113) a 40-by-40-feet escaped burn pile spreading in grass and timber. Firefighters suppressed the fire and cold trailed the surrounding green area before gridding the burned area and finding no areas of heat or visible smoke. The fire was declared contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
MatCom was notified of a residential fie with the potential to spread to the wildlands in trapper Creek on Saturday, May 30th. Forestry Helitack responded to the Oilwell Fire (#114) and reported a fully engulfed structure with minimal escapement into the grass, brush and adjacent mixed hardwoods. Helitack landed to deploy its firefighters. Trapper Creek Volunteer Fire Department suppressed the structure fire while Forestry resources extinguished declared the wildland portion out.
MatCom was notified of a debris fire in the area of Eckert Street in Palmer on Sunday, May 31st. DFFP responded to the Eckert Fire (#115) where a debris pile of non-Class A materials was spreading into surrounding mixed hardwoods. The homeowner extinguished the debris pile while Forestry resources suppressed the wildland involvement. Class A materials are ordinary combustible materials strictly limited to untreated natural wood and natural vegetation. It is illegal to burn anything that produces black smoke, toxic gas, or noxious odors. For example: household garbage, plastics, rubber, Styrofoam, or painted, glued or chemically treated wood. The fire was contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
DFFP was notified of a fire in the area of Carlene Street and Oxford Avenue in Kalifornsky on Sunday, May 31. Forestry responded to the Carlene Fire (#118) and discovered a human caused 10-by-10-feet fire burning in grass. The fire was suppressed, contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 