A cool, wet week in June moderated fire behavior limiting the number of new fires this past week in the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) response area. Of the 12 fires reported, only one was a natural caused fire. Many human caused fires can be avoided.
Mat-Su Communications Public Safety Dispatch (MatCom) was notified of a wildland fire in the area of Wonderland Drive in Houston on Monday, June 8. DFFP and Houston Fire Department responded to the Bearpaw Fire (#162) and reported a fire creeping and smoldering in grass, spruce, and mixed hardwoods with three residences observed within 300-feet of the fire. Helitack started bucket work while ground forces extinguished the fire. Forestry dispatched the Mat-Su Crew Small Module to assist in suppression and gridding efforts. The human caused 0.6-acre fire was contained, controlled and placed in monitor status.
MatCom was notified of a vehicle fire spreading to the wildlands in the area of Milepost 4 Edgerton Highway on Monday, June 8. Kenny Lake Volunteer Fire Department and DFFP responded to the Tonsina Fire (#163) and discovered a fully engulfed camp trailer spreading to the surrounding wildlands. Responders suppressed the 0.1-acre fire declaring it contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. Forestry firefighters returned to the fire Wednesday and discovering no areas of heat or visible smoke called the fire out.
The Anchorage Fire Department (ADF) was notified of a creeping and smoldering fire in the Russian Jack Park area of Anchorage on Monday, June 8. Forestry was requested for a mutual-aid response to the Twining Fire (#164) a 0.25-acre fire smoldering in grass, brush, and hardwoods. Firefighters contained, controlled and placed the human caused fire in monitor status.
Soldotna Public Safety Communications Center (SPSCC) was notified of a yard on fire in the area of Sary Su Street in Anchor Point on Tuesday, June 9. Forestry and Western Emergency Services responded to the Sary Su Fire (#165) and discovered 0.1-acre fire creeping in grass. Responding firefighters assisted the homeowner who was extinguishing the fire. Wildland firefighters did a grid search of the green area surrounding the burned to ensure the fire did not continue to spread. The cigarette caused fire was contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. Forestry returned to the Saturday and finding no areas of heat or visible smoke called the fire out.
A passing pilot reported a large fire threatening a cabin with 50-feet flame lengths on the west side of Mt. Yenlo 40-miles southwest of Talkeetna on Tuesday, June 9. Forestry responded to the Yenlo Fire (#166) with helitack, Air Attack, a retardant tanker, and two single-engine water scooping aircraft. A load of U.S. Wildland Fire Service Smokejumpers was ordered along with DFFP Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew. The fire was near containment after the strong initial attack. Firefighters worked several days to control the human caused 53-acre fire. Pioneer Peak was the crew to demobilize from the fire on Friday declaring the fire out. For a more detailed account of the response search for Yenlo Fire on AKFireInfo.com.
Fairbanks International Airport Police & Fire were notified of an outside fire on the south end of the Tanana River dike by Fairbanks International Airport on Thursday, June 11. Airport Police & Fire responded with Forestry to the Airport Dike Fire (#173) a 100% active fire smoldering in grass, brush, dead and downed driftwood. Responding resources knocked down the flames. DFFP Fairbanks 1 Crew was requested to assist in suppression efforts and to conduct grid and mop up operations. The human caused 0.1-acre fire was contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. Forestry returned to the fire on Sunday and found no remaining heat or visible smoke and called the fire out.
Heat sensing satellites detected an area of concern 38-miles southwest of Lime Village on Friday, June 12. Southwest Area DFFP Helitack responded to the Titnuk Fire (#178) to discover a 5-10-acre fire creeping in spruce and hardwoods with a 30-40% active perimeter. The natural caused fire is located in a Limited response area, where the low density and wide distribution of potentially threatened valuable assets to be protected allows for fire to function in its natural ecological role. Forestry will continue to monitor the fire.
Alaska State Troopers were notified of an excavator that had rolled over and started a fire on undeveloped land in the area of Barbara Drive in Nikiski on Friday, June 12. Nikiski Fire Department and Forestry responded to the Ballard Fire (#181) and discovered a 1-by-1-feet fire burning in grass and duff. The fire was extinguished by responding firefighters. A grid search was conducted in the surrounding green area, and no visible smoke or areas of heat were detected. The fire was declared contained, controlled and placed in monitor status.
A grass fire was reported near the airport in Homer on Friday, June 13. Homer Volunteer Fire Department and Forestry responded to the Beluga Lake Fire (#182) and discovered a 0.1-acre human caused grass fire. The fire was extinguished and declared contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center (FECC) was notified of a fire off Scenic Loop on Saturday evening, June 13. Steese Volunteer Fire and University Fire departments along with Forestry responded to the Scenic Fire (#188) and discovered a 20-by-30-feet fire burning in timber litter. The human caused fire was extinguished, contained, controlled and placed into monitor status. Further investigation revealed that hot ash from a charcoal grill was dumped on a compost pile igniting the dry fuels.
SPSCC was notified of a tree on a powerline in the area of Hager Boulevard in Sterling on Sunday, June 14. Forestry responded to the Hager Fire (#189) and discovered a 0.1-acre fire smoldering in timber. Homer Electric Association cleared the tree from the powerline and firefighters extinguished the fire and declared it contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
SPSCC was notified of an unattended fire in the area of Christie Avenue and McGahan Drive in Nikiski on Sunday evening, June 14. Nikiski Fire Department and Forestry responded to the Christie Fire (#196) and discovered six escaped fires, four campfires and two burn barrels spreading in grass, trees and hazardous materials. Responding resources extinguished the fires and mopped up the burned area to insure there were areas of remaining heat. The human caused fires were declared contained, controlled and placed into monitor status.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 