Firefighters worked until 4 a.m. on Sunday morning trying to get the upper hand on a 688-acre fire that prompted evacuations in Anderson, Alaska, 80 miles South of Fairbanks.
The initial attack started at 6:50 p.m. Saturday evening and involved responses from Clear, Anderson, Nenana, and Tri-Valley fire departments as well the State of Alaska Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Smokejumpers, helicopters, engines and tankers, and dozers were ordered and on scene. Seventy-five people are working on the fire, with five crews ordered according to Incident Commander Ed Sanford.
As of 10 a.m. Sunday, evacuations are still in place. Those needing shelter can go to the Tri-Valley School, 400 Suntrana Rd, Healy, Alaska. Contact the Denali Borough for shelter information at (907) 378-7985.
Before end of shift last night, four dozers were punching line on both sides of the fire, with the Pioneer Peak Hotshot Crew and the Fairbanks One Crew cutting saw line and laying hose.
Fairbanks Area Wildland Fire Forestry Technicians filled command roles and helped with dozer operations. The City of Anderson Fire Department and Tri-Valley Volunteer Department provided tenders to keep water flowing.
The smokejumpers were working an active area on the North side of the fire late into the night in tandem with a contingent from Pioneer Peak on the right flank, and then began working with dozers to push more line.
By the end of shift a dozer line was completed on the left flank from the shooting range in Anderson to a road off of Clear Space Force Station.
In briefing Sunday, Sanford called this area “Big Fire Country” because of the frequent large fires in the area due in part to wind. He said resources need to be ready for wind switches.
“Look at all the fire scars around here, you can tell by looking at them the wind comes through the valley from Healy and then zips and hooks with winds from thunderstorms,” Sanford said.
The objective is to protect Anderson and Clear and by holding the lines and making progress on each side of the fire to steer it toward the river to the West or get around it.
The City of Anderson Fire Department responded to phone calls that there was a fire south of the shooting range and quickly ordered more resources. By 7:15 p.m. an evacuation order was put in place because the fire was spotting toward Anderson. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 