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The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) 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, AFS 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 with a $10 million inventory. The Alaska Fire Service provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA 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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Roundabout Complex grows with more accurate mapping and active fire behavior
The Roundabout Complex is now mapped at 17,776 acres with 10% completion. The increase in acreage reflects both improved mapping and increased fire activity yesterday. Crews continue to make steady progress, with key operational shifts underway and resources preparing to transition.
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Hot weather brings increased fire activity across Ptarmigan Complex
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today due to a forecast calling for high temperatures, low humidity, and wind. These conditions are expected to cause increased fire activity and smoke across the Ptarmigan Complex as fuels become more receptive to fire and hotspots begin to show themselves.
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Multiple aircraft respond to southwest spread on Ninetyeight Fire
Yesterday afternoon, strong winds pushed Ninetyeight Fire (#218) approximately one mile to the southwest. Multiple aircraft responded, including water-scooping aircraft and helicopters, dropping water on the new southwest flank near Mile 32.5. The strong aerial support enabled firefighters to prevent the fire from crossing the Salcha River, and no structures were damaged. The fire is now burning in hardwood fuels. Firefighters made solid progress on structure protection in the area, plumbing many cabins for defense. A hotshot crew will continue patrolling nearby structures around Miles 31-32 and improving protection measures, and firefighters will go direct on this portion of the fire today to prevent additional spread.
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Line around Otter Fire passes Red Flag test; Fortymile Fire 60% contained
The containment line around the Otter Fire (#344) about 50 miles northeast of Venetie passed the Red Flag test Wednesday.
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Firefighters continue progress on Roundabout Complex as reconnaissance and resource shifts begin
Crews are advancing work across the 14,302-acre Roundabout Complex, with nine percent of the incident complete. Prep, mop-up, and gridding efforts continue across multiple fires, while teams prepare resource shifts and tactical transitions. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is now in place to support Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) operations over key fire areas.
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Red Flag Warning expected to result in active fire behavior on Lush Fire today
A Red Flag Warning has been issued from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm for Wednesday, July 2. Hot, dry, and windy conditions are expected across the Central and Eastern Interior. This will combine with very dry surface fuels resulting in critical fire weather conditions.
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Evacuation levels change on Ninetyeight Fire
Higher temperatures, lower humidity, and winds increased fire behavior yesterday on the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), burning north of the Salcha River. The fire was most active on the western edge and in the southwest corner, with some backing and torching. Some flareups were observed in the interior of the fire perimeter, though not on the side of the fire near the river. There was some movement to the west, where a large smoke column was visible.
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Increased fire activity expected today across the Ptarmigan Complex
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today due to a forecast calling for high temperatures, low humidity, and wind. These conditions are expected to cause increased fire activity and smoke across the Ptarmigan Complex as fuels become more receptive to fire and hotspots begin to show themselves.
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Line around Otter Fire reinforced; Fortymile Fire 10% contained
Twelve smokejumpers and a helitack crew identified and worked to suppress any potential threats Tuesday to the containment line around the Otter Fire (#344). The fire is fully contained. Firefighters plan to remain in place through this week’s Red Flag conditions so they can take action if the fire begins to flare up.
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BLM restricts open fires and fireworks due to extreme fire danger in interior Alaska
The Bureau of Land Management’s Fairbanks District Office today issued a to restrict open fires, fireworks, and explosives on BLM-managed lands throughout the District except for areas north Wiseman, Alaska. The order goes into effect tonight at midnight and will last until rescinded.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 