Update 10AM June 22nd – With forecasted thunder cells and shifty winds, firefighters are prepared for an eventful day on the Starry Fire.
Incident Commander Ed Sandford said there have been many fires in the area throughout the years and the most important thing is the relationship with the community and getting people back in their homes.
Evacuations are still in effect for Anderson, 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.
Firefighters are starting the morning sweeping the green to make sure no fire jumped the dozer line last night.
Crews spent much of yesterday chasing down spots and knocking down pockets of heat inside the fire perimeter.
The Midnight Sun Hotshot Crew worked on a 2-acre spot last night on the South Side of the fire. The Suns and the Fairbanks 1 crew will continue to look for spots and lay hose with the intention of securing up to five feet along the South and East edge of the fire.
Additionally, Fairbanks 1 is working with a dozer to improve a safety zone that’s part of an old burn scar. If the fire picks up firefighters can use the cleared dozer push, or safety zone, and be protected from flames and heat without the use of a fire shelter.
The Pioneer Peak Hotshots have significant line to patrol on the North side of the fire and are continuing to push with the dozer, opening up existing trails within the fire to make movement easier.
The divisions are looking at setting up a second pump site on the opposite side of the fire for better water pressure.
Operations will utilize air support and helicopter bucket drops as needed throughout the shift.
1100 PM – June 21st – Firefighters wrapped the Starry Fire (#232) Sunday with dozer line—the smokejumpers, Pioneer Peak Hotshots, and Fairbanks 1 Crew were bolstered by the arrival of the Midnight Sun Hot Shot Crew.
An updated calculation of the fire perimeter brings the Starry Fire to 543 acres. The goal for Monday is to wrap the fire with hose and get water flowing around the whole thing, according to Logan Parsley, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection Operations for the Starry Fire (#232).
However, there is a lot of work left and the area remains in an evacuation “GO” status.
Adverse winds Saturday caused embers to spot over the line in both divisions. All the spots were caught, but crews did many sweeps outside of the fire perimeter to make sure nothing else was burning.
Additionally the fire is difficult to go direct on because there are many pockets of green, or unburned fuel inside the fire. If winds pick up because of a nearby thunderstorm this can result in the fire coming back to life, gaining momentum and spotting over lines.
Despite these challenges, resources were able to make good progress on the fire.
The Midnight Sun Hot Shot Crew arrived helped corral a slop over on the South side of the fire, and gridded the green for heat. The Fairbanks 1 Crew also green gridded and cut line behind the dozers and laid house. The Pioneer Peak Hotshots chased spots, cut line, laid hose, pushed more line with the dozer and directed the helicopter for bucket drops near the head of the fire.
During operations today a lieutenant from Clear Space Force Station contacted forestry saying a drone was in their air space near the fire. No resources on the line were using a drone. Unauthorized use of drones during wildland fire operations is against FAA regulations.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP), UAS/Drones
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 