With over 4,000 lightning strikes across Alaska on Friday and again on Saturday, dozens of new fires started. Red Flag Warnings are issued again today for interior to eastern Alaska due to thunderstorms with abundant lightning. Fuels remain very dry, with good potential for new fires to start.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Smokejumpers responded to three new starts last night all located in the vicinity of Minto. The Applegate Fire (#235) is located northwest of Minto and is estimated at approximately 80 acres. It is creeping and smoldering, with isolated torching. The fire is burning from a valley bottom up two adjacent ridges. Firefighters are working on securing the fire perimeter today.
The Hutlitakwa Fire (#240) is also located northwest of Minto and is estimated at approximately 7 acres. The fire is smoldering in heavy fuels and creeping in the tundra, with spotting estimated 600 feet from the main fire. Firefighters made good progress last night securing the perimeter and continue working on identifying spot fires and hot spots.
The Truce Fire (#243) is located north of Minto and is estimated at approximately 52 acres. Firefighters identified and extinguished hot spots along the perimeter last night. Today they are securing the perimeter and continue working on identifying spot fires and hot spots.
Canyon Fire (#174) — Activity on the north end of the fire slowed yesterday, but the south end became more active with the prevailing winds. Updated mapping estimates the fire area to be 462 acres. USWFS Smokejumpers and Chena Hotshots continue to improve control lines and set hose lays to protect two Native allotments, cabins, and a fish camp in the vicinity. These areas of point protection are still not immediately threatened by the fire, but conditions are still favorable for fire growth. 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 map for the Canyon Fire is unchanged from yesterday.
Contact Public Information Officer Joan Kluwe at Joan_Kluwe@firenet.gov or (907)356-5510 for more information.
-USWFS-
U.S. Wildland Fire Service, P.O. Box 35005 1541 Gaffney Road, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703
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Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, US Wildland Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 