Additional firefighters are joining the effort today on the Bean Fire (#362), located about 20 miles west of Manley Hot Springs.
The nine-person Woodhawk Wildland Fire Module from Montana is demobilizing from the Big Fire near Ruby today and will support the eight smokejumpers already working the Bean Fire, which is currently estimated at 10% containment.
Initially mapped at 80 acres, the fire was burning with a moderate rate of spread, running and torching through brush and tussocks Sunday. Nine scooper aircraft dropped water throughout the day yesterday, significantly cooling large portions of the fire area.
Smokejumpers are focusing on remaining heat along both shoulders and the head of the fire. They are cutting saw line and laying hose along the edges. The right flank is effectively stalled in a marshy area. The fire continues to burn primarily in brush and tussocks.
The operational goal is to contain and control the fire, then putting it in monitor status.
The fire is located approximately 5 miles north of the Tanana River and Cosna Slough near Patterson Creek, and about 5 miles north of several Native allotments and cabins. These sites are not immediately threatened, but firefighters are monitoring the area closely. The fire is burning within an area that last saw fire activity in 2015.
Contact Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at Elizabeth_ipsen@ios.doi.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, US Wildland Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 