Firefighters wrapped the Starry Fire (#232) today 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 tomorrow 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 today 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 