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U.S. Wildland Fire Service Send Firefighters to Help Closely Monitor Wildfire Northwest of Wiseman

By U.S. Wildland Fire Service on July 11, 2026

Smoke rises up from a wildfire burning in timber. A mountain is in the background and a dirt road is in the foreground. — The Nutmeg Fire is burning south of Nolan Road and about 5.5 miles northwest of Wiseman. Photo courtesy Wiseman resident Jack Reakoff. Any reproduction of this image must be granted by the photographer.

Fire managers are keeping a close eye on a wildfire burning 5.5 miles northwest of Wiseman, south of Wiseman Creek and Nolan Road. The lightning‑caused Nutmeg Fire (#397) was discovered on Thursday and is burning in an area designated as a Limited Management Option. Fires in these areas are typically monitored and allowed to play their natural ecological role unless they threaten values, communities, or other sites identified for protection.

Satellite imagery from Friday afternoon estimated the fire at 70 acres, but based on fire behavior later that day, fire managers believe it has significantly grown.

It is burning in brush up to marshy areas south of Wiseman Creek. Because of its proximity to the community of Wiseman, a large mining operation to the north, and its visibility from the Dalton Highway, fire managers sent two smokejumpers to the area to maintain a close watch on fire behavior and report real‑time conditions. Their observations will help guide ongoing assessments and any actions needed to protect the community, the mine, nearby cabins, and archaeological sites in the area. They should arrive in the area today.

The terrain between the fire and Wiseman has features that, paired with the upcoming predicted wetter weather starting tonight, could restrict fire growth. Winds will be out of the south today, but with forecasted isolated thunderstorms, could produce erratic outflow winds gusting 35 to 50 mph. Temperatures are forecasted to be in the high 70s to low 80s with humidity levels as low as 25% today. This is a 90% chance of rain tonight with wetter, cooler weather and calmer winds predicted Sunday.

For updated fire information, visit Alaska Wildland Fire Information (akfireinfo.com). Contact Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at Elizabeth_ipsen@ios.doi.gov or (907) 356-5510 for more information.

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