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Progress on allotment and structure protection near Canyon Fire

By U.S. Wildland Fire Service on June 19, 2026

U.S. Wildland Fire Service graphic for a fire update featuring a line of firefighters walking toward a forest fire while the sun sets in the background. — *Update for Canyon Fire #174 on June 19, 2026*

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Smokejumpers and Chena Hotshots are making progress on two Native allotments, a cabin, and a fish camp in the vicinity of Canyon Fire (#174). They completed a control line around the allotment approximately 3 miles northeast of the fire on the north side of the Yukon River. Today they are working on setting a hose lay to protect a cabin and fish camp on private land in the vicinity. Firefighters are continuing to cut control line for the allotment 1.5 mile south of the fire, also on the north side of the Yukon River.

The fire is smoldering in black and white spruce, with limited growth on Thursday. Current mapping estimates the fire at 393 acres. A passing thunderstorm cooled the fire again yesterday, diminishing smoke production later in the day. Rampart is the nearest community, which is approximately 20 miles east of the fire and south of the Yukon River. Smoke is visible to both boaters and aviators traveling the Yukon River corridor.

The typical summer fire weather pattern is reaching across Alaska today, bringing hot temperatures with numerous thunderstorms moving across very dry fuels. The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch today for the majority of Southeast Interior. Red Flag Warnings are issued for Southcentral Alaska today and central to eastern Alaska tomorrow. Lightning is forecast for a broad swath of the state through Saturday, with potential for new fire starts.

Since the Canyon Fire is in a Limited Management Option Area, it is generally allowed to play its natural ecological role unless it threatens identified sites of value. However, Native allotments receive full protection status. Firefighters are focusing on protecting allotments and structures without directly engaging the main fire.

Contact Public Information Officer Joan Kluwe at Joan_Kluwe@firenet.gov or (907)356-5510 for more information.

Map of Canyon Fire perimeter, located north of the Yukon River and southwest of Canyon Creek — *Map of Canyon Fire#174 on June 18, 2026. Purple areas are nearby Native allotments. Click on image for PDF version of map.*

-USWFS-

U.S. Wildland Fire Service, P.O. Box 35005 1541 Gaffney Road, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

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