The Siruk Fire (#340), which is burning 23 miles northwest of Allakaket, was 50% contained Friday night. The fire did not grow in acreage despite hot, dry weather and wind gusts up to 20 mph.
Smokejumpers have a control line reinforced with a hose lay along the east flank of the fire. They have identified hotspots along the southern and northwestern edges of the fire and used water drops from helicopters on Friday while identifying opportunities to put in control lines in those areas.
Helicopters will be used again today to drop water on areas of concern. They will also move the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chena Hotshots to the fire.
Saturday is expected to be another hot, dry day. Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid to upper 70s with relative humidities in the critical range of 25 to 30%. Sustained winds should be less than 10 mph, but gusts could reach up to 18 mph. There is a chance for trace amounts of rain, with potential thunderstorms south and east of the fire that could produce outflow winds up to 35 mph.
The lightning-sparked Siruk Fire was detected along the Alatna River on June 30 by USWFS aircraft. Two Native allotments are nearby; one is about a mile north and another is an estimated 4 miles northeast. The fire is not threatening either allotment.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, US Wildland Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 