Home › Active Wildland Fire › Crews advance containment on four staffed fires in Mat-Su and Southwest Areas

Crews advance containment on four staffed fires in Mat-Su and Southwest Areas

By on

44 firefighters continue working on four staffed fires within the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s Coastal Region in the Mat-Su and Southwest Areas. Fire activity remained limited across Southcentral and Southwest Alaska this week. With increased containment on staffed fires and moderated weather, aviation resources will conduct reconnaissance flights on fires placed in monitor status during the summer solstice lightning event, providing updated assessments of fire behavior, size, and status.

A smoke column rises above a forested area on a sunny, blue-sky day with mountains in the background.
A photo of the smoke column from the Vanderpool Fire (#256) 9 miles east of McGrath during the solstice weekend. The fire is now 75% contained with 11 firefighters remaining on scene to continue gridding operations. Photo by Isaako Muta, DFFP.

213 Beluga Fire

Located 16 miles west of Mount Susitna in the Mat-Su Area. Firefighters reached 75% containment on the 50-acre fire and reported heat remaining in dead and downed trees. A UAS pilot from the Mat-Su area will use infrared mapping to support the firefighters by locating remaining hot spots. The fire remains staffed with 17 personnel; firefighters will continue containment efforts throughout the week.

205 Bulchitna Fire

Located 8.5 miles east of Skwentna in the Mat-Su Area. Mat-Su Crew contained the 1.5-acre fire with saw line and hose lay on June 19 and were pulled to respond to the nearby Beluga Fire (213) shortly after.  Three firefighters returned to the fire yesterday and found no remaining heat or smoke. They will pull hose, pumps, and other suppression equipment left on the fire today and will demobilize tonight or tomorrow, once backhaul is complete.

256 Vanderpool Fire

Located nine miles east of McGrath. Firefighters have gridded 200 feet in around 75% of the fire perimeter, looking for and extinguishing hot spots. The fire remains staffed with 11 personnel who will continue working the remaining perimeter of the fire and plan to demobilize this weekend.

238 Joaquin Fire

Located nine miles east of McGrath. Firefighters have gridded 100 feet in from the fire’s perimeter and are finding minimal hot spots and fire activity.  11 firefighters will continue gridding the perimeter through the week and plan to demobilize this weekend.

Map showing locations of four staffed fires in the DFFP Southwest and Mat-Su Areas: Joaquin Fire #238 and Vanderpool Fire #256 in the Southwest Area and Beluga Fire #213 and Bulchitna Fire #205 in Mat-Su Area.
Map showing locations of four staffed fires in DFFP’s Coastal Region as of June 25, 2026. Joaquin Fire #238 and Vanderpool Fire #256 in the Southwest Area and Beluga Fire #213 and Bulchitna Fire #205 in Mat-Su Area. Click on the image to download a PDF type file to print or enlarge.
‹
›

Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,