Firefighters wrapped up work on the Cecil Fire, and others continued making steady progress on the nearby Big Fire. The two incidents were managed together in Ruby by a Type 3 incident management team. The lightning‑caused fires were detected on June 26 and are located about 11 miles east of Ruby, separated by roughly half a mile. Neither fire is threatening the community or nearby Native allotments.
Big Fire (#313)
The Big Fire is approximately 258 acres and 70% contained, with 61 personnel assigned. Crews have secured the left flank and continue mopping up and extinguishing interior heat while gaining depth on the right flank. Warm and dry conditions are expected, with light north winds except near possible outflow winds from nearby thunderstorms.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Midnight Sun Interagency Fire Crew and the Woodhawk Wildland Fire Module are demobilizing today with 10 smokejumpers scheduled to leave Tuesday. The 21-person Gannet Glacier crew from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection and 11-person Kansas State Suppression Module continue working on direct line containment of the fire.
Cecil Fire (#315)
The Cecil Fire is approximately 724 acres and is 100% contained, with 18 personnel assigned. Crews have completed suppression operations, and a UAS drone flight today detected no remaining heat. Remaining personnel and equipment have been pulled off the fire for demobilization and backhaul to U.S. Wildland Fire Service facilities on Fort Wainwright.
Overhead and support personnel with the Type 3 team will remain in Ruby to continue supporting operations on the Big Fire until it is fully contained.
PREDICTED WEATHER:A building area of high pressure and upper‑level energy will create an unstable atmosphere this afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible throughout the day. Strong storms are expected to develop over the higher terrain north and south of the fire, which could produce gust fronts up to 40 mph.
If a thunderstorm moves directly over the fire, it is expected to be fairly wet, with the potential to bring up to 0.5-inch of rain. Temperatures will rise to near 80 degrees today and again on Tuesday before beginning to cool slightly on Wednesday. Widespread cloud cover and rain showers are expected across the Western Interior on Wednesday.
Contact Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at Elizabeth_ipsen@ios.doi.gov or (907)356-5510 for more information. Download a PDF version of this update.
-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, US Wildland Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 