Cloudy, cool, wet, and breezy conditions are expected to continue across much of Alaska for the next few days. Thunderstorm activity is expected to be minimal, but potential for lightning remains in the Alaska Range and the Fortymile Country. The recent low-pressure system has dampened fuels through much of the state. However, the Kenai Peninsula presently has the highest fire danger, with persistent dry fuels.
Work is concluding on many of the 13 staffed fires managed by the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Firefighters will return to their home units or request reassignment.
Firefighters continue working along the Elliott and Taylor highways in central and eastern Interior. Please watch for and yield to firefighting traffic. Particularly for the Taylor Highway area, do not stop on the highway to look at the fire.
Staffed Fire Updates:
Work on the Canyon Fire (#174) point protection measures concluded yesterday and firefighters are demobilizing today. The burned area is estimated at 1,000 acres; the fire will be placed in monitor status. This will be the last update on this incident, unless conditions change. Rampart, the nearest community, is approximately 20 miles east of the fire and south of the Yukon River.
The Polly Fire (#228) received consistent rain Sunday, reducing activity to the point that firefighters reported seeing just a single finger of smoke during the day. The Alaska Range Suppression Module from Denali National Park & Preserve will once again scout known sites along the Fortymile River today. They plan to set up structure protection at one of the sites and assess what it would take to protect another if it is threatened by fire.
Members of the U.S. Forest Service uncrewed aircraft system module from Boise were unable to fly their drone on Sunday due to rain. If the weather clears up today, the UAS module will fly an infrared mapping mission along the fire’s perimeter to identify any remaining hotspots.
The Polly Fire was detected on June 20 following abundant lightning. It is about 21 miles north of Chicken and 35 miles south of Eagle. Please watch for and yield to firefighting traffic on the Taylor Highway near milepost 110, and do not stop on the highway in the fire area.
The Mailbox Fire (#290) received over 24 hours of continuous rain, substantially cooling the fire. Firefighters are improving the containment line and searching for hot spots near the fire perimeter. The fire area is estimated at 155 acres and 80% containment. The Tatanka and Pike Hot Shot crews and the Mammoth Wildland Fire Module are assigned to this incident. It is located approximately 14 miles west of milepost 146 on the Dalton Highway and 16 miles northeast of Bettles.
Firefighters will demobilize from the Kanuti Fire (#304) today, after walking the fire to check for any remaining hot spots. Fires in this area are notoriously resistant to control, often burning deep into the peat. The fire remains at approximately 75 acres is considered contained. It is approximately 9 miles southeast of Allakaket and a Native allotment is located approximately 1 mile to the east.
No visible smoke remains at the Mingkoket (#321) and Chalatna (#323) fires after a successful initial attack combined with light precipitation over the fires on Sunday. This area is known for thick lichen that supports caribou herds. Fires in this area are notoriously resistant to control, often burning deep into the peat. Firefighters expect to demobilize today after a final check for hot spots. These fires are approximately 7 to 8 miles east of Kanuti Fire (#304) and 24 miles southeast of Allakaket. Native allotments are within 5 miles of the fire but are not threatened at this time. The fires are estimated at 2 acres each. This will be the final update on these fires, unless conditions change.
Light rain fell over the Canoe Fire (#328) yesterday, diminishing fire activity. Smokejumpers are walking the fire area today and extinguishing any remaining hotspots. Unless any heat is identified, they plan to demobilize today. The fire area is estimated at 75 acres. This is expected to be the final update for this incident, unless conditions change.
Elliott Complex – Work is concluded on all fires except for the Applegate Fire #(235), which is estimated at 110 acres with 75% containment. The USWFS North Star Type 2 Fire Crew continues seeking out and cooling remaining hotspots within the fire area. The Nulato Hills 1 and 2 Type 2 Contract Crews are demobilizing from the Truce Fire (#243) today. Hutlitakwa (#240), Starvation (#241), and Tractor (#314) fires are declared out. Goose (#242) and Lochenyatth (#249) fires are in monitor status.
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 