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The U.S. Wildland Fire Service in Alaska (USWFS) is located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, provides wildland fire suppression services for over 244 million acres of Department of the Interior and Native Corporation Lands in Alaska. In addition, USWFS has other statewide responsibilities that include: interpretation of fire management policy; oversight of the BLM Alaska Aviation program; fuels management projects; and operating and maintaining advanced communication and computer systems such as the Alaska Lightning Detection System. AFS also maintains a National Incident Support Cache. The U.S. Wildland Fire Service in Alaska provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska.
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Firefighters prioritize allotment protection amid extended dry spell on Roundabout Complex
The Roundabout Complex has grown to 49,457 acres, with all 1,600 acres of new growth occurring on the Moldy Fire (#279). Additional growth on the Moldy Fire overnight is suspected. The drying and warming trend continues, with no measurable rainfall over the fire area for the past 16 days. Precipitation is forecasted for next week.
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Upper Yukon experiences a return to warmer and drier conditions; smokejumpers respond to new start near Fortymile River and Taylor Highway
The Upper Yukon Zone has seen a return to warming and drying as of Friday morning. This trend will continue as temperatures are expected to reach into the upper seventies and low eighties on Saturday. Sunday has the potential to bring moisture and thunderstorms to the area, and lightning is expected. Two staffed fires have recently transitioned into monitor status, and the Tsukon (#382) remains staffed under a point protection strategy. Smokejumpers have responded to the Polly Fire (#435), a new start.
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Smokejumpers respond to new fire near Taylor Highway and Fortymile River
Four smokejumpers have responded to protect structures along the Fortymile River from a fire burning 34 miles south of Eagle. The Poly Fire (#435), located 2 miles east of milepost 108 of Taylor Highway, is burning in black spruce and exhibiting extreme fire behavior.
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IMT to take command of Goldrun Complex near Ambler
A Type 3 incident management team from Wyoming is scheduled to take command of a complex of eight wildfires burning between Kiana and Ambler in the Kobuk Valley at 6 p.m. today. Some members of the team will be based in Ambler, while others will support them from Fairbanks.
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Firefighters injured in boating incident on Salcha River
Update at 6:35 p.m. from the U.S. Forest Service about the firefighters injured in today’s boating incident on the Salcha River. Forest Service News Release Media Contact:Region 5 Media DeskSM.FS.MediaDeskR5@usda.gov California Firefighters Injured in Boating Incident on Salcha River FAIRBANKS, Alaska… Read More ›
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Firefighters make steady progress on Elephant and Lush fires amid favorable conditions
There was no significant fire growth on the Elephant (#225) or Lush (#199) fires yesterday. Firefighters took advantage of the favorable conditions to strengthen control lines and backhaul unneeded equipment.
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Firefighters make progress as weather clears over Ninetyeight Fire
Following two days of rain, the sun has returned over the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), bringing clearer skies and improved visibility for aerial reconnaissance. Conditions on the ground have stabilized, with minimal fire growth observed. The fire is currently smoldering and creeping with some interior heat.
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Warming and drying trend in the forecast for Ptarmigan Complex, drone module assigned to support incident
The Ptarmigan Complex experienced moderate fire activity yesterday morning due to mostly cloudy weather accompanied by a light drizzle. Activity increased slightly on the north end of the Turtle Fire (#243) as cloud cover broke and temperatures increased in the early afternoon. The area expects to see a warming, drying trend for the weekend. This may lead to an increase in fire activity and visible smoke.
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Roundabout Complex firefighters reinforce allotment and structure protection, as Moldy Fire growth continues
The Roundabout Complex is now 47,819 acres, with all 2,300 acres of growth yesterday occurring on the Moldy Fire. The expansion was concentrated on the southeast corner near Roundabout Mountain. Dry conditions persist with no rainfall received and no precipitation expected until after the weekend.
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Efforts increase on complex of fires near Ambler
Ambler will see an influx of firefighting personnel in the coming days as efforts ramp up to manage a group of fires burning between Kiana and Ambler in the Kobuk Valley. Eight of these fires have been grouped into the Goldrun Complex, which will soon be managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team from Wyoming.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 