The week began with cloudy, cool and wet weather which limited fire activity over much of the state. The Kenai Peninsula was forecast to have the highest fire danger as it had the driest fuels. Isolated thunderstorm chances began to increase midweek. Thunderstorm activity shifted from isolated to wetting rains across the Kenai and southwest on Saturday. Despite these rains, fuels remain receptive to lightning starts and active fire behavior remains possible. Many areas that don’t traditionally see fire activity (North Slope, Seward Peninsula) have the potential through next week, in addition to the northern interior. The past ten days have brought a total of 24,633 lightning strikes across the state.
Sunday afternoon, a member of the public reported flames and smoke after observing a lightning strike 7.5 miles northwest of Aniak. Forestry H-6LH responded to the Owhat Fire (#365). Helitak arrived on scene and reported 10-15 acres creeping and smoldering in tundra with 1-2 foot flame lengths. No resources threatened burning in a swampy area. H-6LH engaged and communicated to smokejumpers to prioritize the south flank. Firefighters made good progress on the fire and will assess needs today.
The Stubblefield Fire (#364) was reported by Central Emergency Services (CES) Sunday who said that a 10’x10′ bonfire was burning in a swamp in the area of Stubblefield Drive in Soldotna. CES resources and Forestry P-671, P-672 and Engine 667 responded. Upon arrival, the fire was reported to be a .1 acre, 100% active fire smoldering and creeping in grass, duff and timber. No structures threatened. Resources on scene suppressed fire and engaged in mop up operations. Fire declared contained at 8:27 pm.
Alaska State Troopers reported the Blexes Fire (#363) as a small fire off of a powerline trail at the base of a spruce tree. Forestry AK-61, P-671 and CV-673 responded. Upon arrival IC reported a 3’x3′ pile in duff and timber litter that had been suppressed by civilians in the area. Resources completed a grid of the fire and declared the incident contained, controlled and in monitor status at 6:13 pm.
A member of the public reported the Anaconda Fire (#361) Sunday afternoon. The smoke was reported on the north side of Chena Hot Springs Road between mileposts 22 and 26. The fire is now 100% contained and controlled.
A forestry engine responded and tied in with the homeowner. The fire was reported to be moving south, with structures threatened within one mile, and water scoopers and smokejumpers were requested.
Water scoopers supported suppression efforts until eight smokejumpers arrived and were dropped off. Smokejumpers began cutting trees and constructing sawline around the fire perimeter. They remained on the incident overnight to ensure the fire was contained and to identify and extinguish any remaining hot spots.
The Julius Fire (#359) was reported Sunday afternoon by the FAA Tower lookout in Nenana.
When firefighters arrived in the area, the fire was estimated at 5 to 10 acres, burning in spruce with a 100% active perimeter and northeast winds of 5 to 10 mph. White Mountain Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, Fairbanks 1 Type 2 Crew, North Star Type 2 Crew, engines, and a helicopter with a bucket responded.
Crews cut sawline around the fire perimeter, which had grown to 24.5 acres before it was declared 100% contained. Fairbanks 1 and North Star crews continued to grid the fire area, identify remaining hot spots, and extinguish any heat they found.
A structure fire was reported on Sunday to have escaped into the wildland becoming the Island Lake Fire (#357). There was no active perimeter, and no resources needed.
The Piledriver Fire (#355) was reported Saturday afternoon as a 20’ diameter fire off of a dog mushing trail in the area of Eielson Farm Road, southwest of Fairbanks. Forestry engines responded to find a 0.1 acre fire. The fire was in mixed hardwoods with no active fire perimeter. The fire was suppressed and declared controlled at 3:41 pm.
On Friday, Mat-Su Communications Public Safety Dispatch reported a cabin with no road access was on fire with possible wildland involvement. The Red Shirt Fire (#351) was in the area of Red Shirt Lake. Forestry H-7AM responded and reported .1 acre fire that had escaped from the cabin into the wildlands. Creeping, smoldering and running observed in brush, spruce and mixed hardwoods. The helicopter was able to knock down flames with bucket operations. At approximately 9 pm, the fire was declared controlled and will be monitored.
A member of the public reported that a lightning strike was observed, followed by a smoke in the area of mile marker 320, north of the Parks Highway. Forrest Fire 68 reported the smoke that became Standard Creek Fire (#348) was located in an old burn scar. A reconnaissance flight was being flown in the area by H-169. They reported a 20’x20′ smoldering fire with a 100% active perimeter, light smoke, burning in a burn scar in dead and down, grass and tundra. No resources threatened. On the ground, Forrest Fire 68 and E-763 responded and were able to extinguish all heat. The fire was declared controlled and put in monitor status at 5:00 pm Friday.
The Flats Fire (#347) was called in on Thursday by Alaska State Troopers. It was reported a grass fire on the shoulder of Bridge Access Road in Soldotna. Forestry E-665 and P-663 responded. Upon arrival, the incident commander reported a 3’x6′ fire smoldering in grass. Resources suppressed the fire and declared incident contained, controlled and placed in monitor status at 5:14 pm.
On Wednesday, the Martha Fire (# 344) was reported by Alaska State Troopers. The fire was reported to have 40-foot flame lengths and was behind a residence on Pavillion Drive in Sterling. An air attack and air tanker were initially ordered. CES resources and Forestry H-3HS, E-663, E-667, E-671 and E-672 responded. Upon arrival, the incident commander reported 1-2 acres burning in spruce and grass with a 100% active perimeter. Isolated and group torching with spotting observed and two structures threated. H-3SH engaged in bucket operations, dropping water. Four water-scooping aircraft were ordered. At approximately 6:15 pm, forward progression of fire was stopped and tactical aircraft requests were canceled. On Thursday, firefighters checked the fire – no smokes were found after running a grid of the fire area and hazard trees were mitigated. The fire mapped at 3.25 acres and put in monitor status on Friday.
Alaska State Troopers reported the Honeybee (#342) on Wednesday, July 1. The 30’x30′ brush fire was reported to be spreading in the area of Rainbow Ave in Sterling. CES resources, Forestry H-3SH, E-663, E-665 and P-671 responded. Upon arrival, the 0.25 acre fire was reported to be smoldering and creeping in grass, duff and timber. The fire perimeter was 100% active with 5-10 foot flame lengths. Ground resources suppressed fire and mopped up area. Firefighters conducted a grid of the blackened ground and reported no heat or smoke found. Fire declared contained and controlled and will be monitored.
On July 3, the Airport Way Fire (#341) was reported by the Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center as a brush fire. The fire was located on Airport Way in Fairbanks and was responded to by Fairbanks Fire Department resources, Forestry P-272 and E-763. Upon arrival, E-763 reported a 0.1 acre fire burning in continuous hardwoods. Resources on scene suppressed fire and gridded area reporting no heat or smoke. Fire declared contained and controlled just after 2:00 pm. The fire will be monitored.
Alaska State Troopers reported smoke in the area of Craftsman Road in Homer on Tuesday. Forestry E-662, E-661 and P-671 responded to the Craftsman Fire (#339). Upon arrival, the incident commander reported an escaped brush pile of 50’x50′ smoldering in grass with a 100% active perimeter and 1 foot flame lengths. Firefighters on scene worked to suppress fire and stop forward progress. Fire declared contained, controlled and placed in monitor status at approximately 8:00 pm.
On Tuesday, there was a report of a trailer on fire in the area of Salmon Drive in Kenai. The Silver Salmon Fire (#337) was responded to by Forestry H-3HS, E-665, E-667, P-671. Upon arrival, H-3SH reported a fully engulfed trailer and that Kenai Fire Department was on scene. E-667 arrived and reported a 0.1 acre of wildland involvement with a 100% active perimeter smoldering in grass. Ground resources suppressed grass fire and gridded area. Fire declared contained, controlled and in monitor status at 2:07 pm.
Also on June 30, a civilian reported an active fire near McDonald’s in Homer. Forestry CV677 responded and upon arrival, reported a 3’x3′ inactive fire with grass fuels. The Truck Tire Fire (#335) was suppressed and will be monitored.
There was a report of an escaped burn pile in the area of Hester Avenue in Sterling on Monday. Forestry P-671 responded and reported that the one-acre Hester Fire (#332) was smoldering and creeping in grass, duff, and timber. No resources were threatened. Engines E-663 and E-886 responded with additional water to aid suppression. The incident was declared controlled and placed in monitor status early that afternoon.
On Monday, June 20, Fairbanks Flight Services reported a fire 12 miles northwest of the Goldking airstrip. The Tatlanika Fire (#246) was running in tundra and black spruce with no values at risk. The fire was placed in monitor status. This Thursday, there were several reports of smoke in the area and a helicopter was sent to check the fire. The 166 acre fire was creeping, smoldering and running in mixed hardwoods with a 10% active perimeter. This fire will continue to be monitored.
A Type 3 Incident Management Team has been managing the Starry Fire (#234). The fire is located next to the town of Anderson and was discovered on Monday, June 20. Firefighters worked this week to mop up all areas of heat within the fire perimeter this week. Backhaul of unneeded equipment from the fire line continued as work was completed. Two excavators were engaged in suppression repair work. The 547 acre fire was 100% controlled at the end of shift Sunday and will be transferred back to the local unit on Monday and be in patrol status.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 