Following the Fourth of July holiday, Alaska experienced a dynamic weather pattern that produced sharp contrasts in fire potential across the state. Multiple storm systems tracked across southern and western Alaska, bringing widespread showers, thunderstorms, and wetting rains to portions of the Kenai Peninsula, where many areas received around 1-2 inches of rain over the week. The rain moderated fire behavior in some areas, but fuels remained receptive to new lightning starts. In contrast, hot, dry, and windy conditions developed across the Copper River Basin, prompting the National Weather Service to issue Red Flag Warnings for the Central and Southern Copper Valley and McCarthy on July 11 due to critically low humidity, gusty winds, and increasingly dry fuels. Lightning remained to be high across the state, mostly in the North and Interior.  

On Sunday, a MATCOM Public Safety Dispatch reported a 2 acre fire burning in brush and grass in the area of mile marker 13 of Edgerton Highway. Kenny Lake VFD and Copper River DFFP resources responded to the Homestead Hay Fire (#418). Upon arrival resources reported less than 1 acre burning in a hay field. Resources on scene suppressed fire and declared contained and controlled. Fire will be monitored. 

On Friday, a helicopter reported a tree on fire due to a lightning strike, two miles northeast of the Shageluk Fire (#319) about 24 miles northeast of Holy Cross, Alaska. The Innoko Fire (#410) was reported to be .25 acre with fuels of tundra and spruce. No resources were threatened and no active fire remained. Fire managers declared the fire controlled and will be monitored. 

On Friday, Alaska State Troopers reported an escaped campfire spreading underground in the area of Rounds Road in Nikiski. Kenai DFFP helicopter responded and reported the Charlie’s Way fire (#410) to be 5 ft x 10 ft in size, creeping and smoldering in grass with a 5% active perimeter. No resources were threatened. The Nikiski Fire Department also responded and resources on scene suppressed fire. Fire declared contained and controlled and will be monitored. 

Friday, Alaska State Troopers reported an eagles’ nest on a powerline that was causing sparks in the area of Mile Marker 283 of the Richardson Highway. DFFP responded and upon arrival, reported an Osprey nest burning on an Inter-Tie. Beneath the Inter-Tie was the 10 ft x 10 ft Mile 81 Pond fire (#408) between the road and the Tanana River. The fire was active but not spreading. Golden Valley Electric Association deenergized the transmission line. Resources on scene suppressed fire. The fire was declared contained and controlled on Friday. On Sunday, a DFFP engine checked the fire and declared it out. The osprey is reportedly already working to rebuild nest. 

Multiple callers reported smoke rising from the woods behind the Fred Meyer in Eagle River on Thursday. While responding to the Hatchery Fire (#396), Chugiak Fire Department requested that Forestry helicopter respond to the area to assist with locating the origin of the smoke. Helicopter responded to the area and located a 10×10 controlled burn pile with people on site. 

On Thursday, Soldotna Trooper Dispatch reported a small fire off of the side of Seashore Rd in Kenai. DFFP resources responded and upon arrival, reported the Seashore fire (#393) was a 15’x20’ smoldering and creeping fire in grass and duff that was 100% active. Resources on scene extinguished and completed a grid of the fire. The incident was declared contained/controlled that evening and later called out on Sunday. 

A public caller reported an area of burned ground around Mile Marker 315 of the Richardson Highway on Tuesday. The Salcha Fire Department and DFFP responded to the Old Richardson Fire (#381). They located a lightning start and reported a small smoldering grass fire with no smoke or flame lengths. Resources on scene suppressed the .1 acre fire and placed it in monitor status. 

On Tuesday, a fire was reported near the Pipeline outside of Fairbanks around the vicinity of Johnson Road. The Pipeline Fire (#376) was lightning caused and burning in black spruce. Fairbanks DFFP resources arrived on scene including crews, engines and a helicopter to protect infrastructure in the area. The fire grew to about two acres in dense black spruce, the hard work of firefighters contained the fire by Thursday.  

On Tuesday, a report of a 50 ft brush fire in the area of End Road in Homer was called in. DFFP resources responded to the Secluded Fire (#375). Upon arrival a small area, about 20 ft X 30 ft, was smoldering in tall grass with minimal activity observed. Resources on scene suppressed fire.  

On Monday the Talkeetna Flight Services staff reported two fires in the area of Trapper Creek. A helicopter in the area reported the Trapper Fire (#371), a .1 acre fire in hardwoods. Heavy equipment was on scene. A DFFP Helicopter responded and upon arrival reported a large burn pile near an airstrip at the end of S Bradley Rd in Talkeetna. The homeowner was in possession of a burn permit and had equipment on site however the burn pile was outside of the permit regulations. The fire was extinguished with water and equipment on site. 

Over the course of the past few weeks, smoke from the Tatlinka Fire (#246) has been visible from both Fairbanks and Nenana. The fire was originally discovered on June 20 and has shown increased activity and smoke last week. It is located approximately 25 miles east of Clear and 39 miles southwest of Fairbanks and estimated at 982 acres. DFFP personnel continue to monitor the fire through reconnaissance flights to assess fire activity and perimeter growth.

Categories: AK Fire Info