Recent rainfall across northern Alaska has moderated fire activity, allowing firefighters to complete objectives on the remaining three staffed fires in Alaska. With the transition of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service-managed Nutmeg, Notakok and Konedsin Minnkohwin fires to monitor status, there will be no staffed wildland fire incidents in Alaska after Wednesday.
USWFS fire managers will continue monitoring these incidents to ensure they remain secure. As resources are released from these fires over the next two days, firefighters will return to USWFS facilities in Fort Wainwright. Unless conditions change significantly, this will be the final public updates for all three fires.
Even as staffed fires wind down, preventing wildfire remains important. The public is encouraged to use caution with any activity that could produce sparks or heat, especially with during periods of warm, dry, or windy weather. Please do your part to prevent wildfires. Never leave a fire unattended, make sure your campfire is completely dead out and avoid burning on windy days.
Nutmeg Fire (#397)
The two smokejumpers assigned to this lightning-caused fire burning 5.5 miles northwest Wiseman were released after rain and cloudy, cooler weather reduced fire activity to isolated smoldering Monday. The fire was estimated at 127 acres.
Konedsin Minnkohwin Fire (#404)
The 160-acre Konedsin Minnkohwin Fire will transition to monitoring status today. The 33 personnel assigned to the incident will demobilize after completing most of the suppression work on this fire burning in the Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. Fire behavior has moderated significantly due to wetter, cooler conditions with more rain in the forecast. Additionally, crews have noted ongoing safety concerns due to bear interactions. The fire is located approximately 40 miles west of the Dalton Highway and 21 miles east of the community of Allakaket.
Notakok Fire (#367),
The USWFS North Star Fire Crew will do one last grid search for any remaining hotspots. This 55-acre fire ignited after a lightning strike touched down a mile outside Kaltag on July 6. Then plan to demobilize on Wednesday.
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
Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the USWFS in Alaska? Visit our Flickr channel!
Learn more online, and on Facebook.
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, US Wildland Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 