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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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Four smokejumpers on ground near Salcha River cabin threatened by nearby wildfire
Four smokejumpers are on the ground and beginning structure protection efforts at a cabin near Mile 34 on the Salcha River, about one mile south of the lightning-caused Ninetyeight Fire (#218), which is burning near the border of the Yukon Training Area east of Eielson Air Force Bas
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More resources arrive in Rampart as multiple fires burn in the area
A small Type 3 Incident Management Team – composed primarily of BLM AFS personnel – is now in place to coordinate efforts to protect Rampart and several Alaska Native allotments threatened by the fires.
Additional ground support arrived Thursday, including the BLM AFS Midnight Sun Hotshots and the North Star Fire Crew, a BLM AFS Type 2 training crew. Each crew brings approximately 21 firefighters to assist with protection efforts.
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BLM AFS monitoring lightning-caused fire in remote section of Yukon Training Area
BLM Alaska Fire Service is closely monitoring the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), a lightning-caused wildfire burning in a remote corner of the Yukon Training Area, north of the Salcha River. The fire is located approximately 1.5 miles north of a cabin situated on the north side of the river near the mouth of Flat Creek, about 35 miles upriver.
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BLM announces emergency closure of trails and off-road areas in Nome Creek Valley due to wildland fire activity in the White Mountains National Recreation Area
To protect the public and provide for firefighter safety in light of ongoing wildland fire activity associated with the Ophir fire (#216), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office is closing the trails and off-road areas in the Nome Creek Valley of the White Mountains National Recreation Area accessible from the U.S. Creek Road at mile 57 Steese Highway. A map of the closure area is attached.
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Rampart becomes hub of firefighting activity as crews mobilize for Lush Fire
Rampart is set to become a busy hub in the coming days as additional firefighting resources – including a Type 3 Incident Management Team and multiple crews – mobilize in response to the Lush Fire (#199), burning across the Yukon River.
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More fires reported near Central
BLM Alaska Fire Service is responding to a fire southwest of Central. Two single-engine and two multi-engine water scoopers are en route to the Deadwood Fire (#214), and BLM AFS is also mobilizing smokejumpers.
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Smokejumpers respond to fast-moving wildfire near Rampart
Smokejumpers are on the ground in Rampart after responding Wednesday night to a large, fast-moving wildfire burning north of the Yukon River, directly across from the community. The fire was estimated at 200 acres by 9 p.m.
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Wildfires near Huslia prompt swift response from BLM AFS
BLM Alaska Fire Service is working to suppress two lightning-caused wildfires burning approximately 25 miles northwest of Huslia. The larger fire, the 100-acre Billy Hawk Fire (#182), is located about 2.5 miles north of an Alaska Native allotment and associated… Read More ›
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Trails, cabins closed as wildfire burns in White Mountains National Recreation Area
The Bureau of Land Management Eastern Interior Field Office temporarily closed the western portion of the White Mountains National Recreation Area on Wednesday due to a wildfire. The closure includes trails, public use cabins, trail shelters, and the Wickersham Dome… Read More ›
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Swift action halts spread of Rabbit Fire near Unalakleet
9 a.m., Wednesday (June 18) Update: Quick work by six smokejumpers and supporting aircraft stopped the spread of the Rabbit Fire (#176) near Unalakleet Tuesday night, holding it to just under 3 acres. The coordinated effort included single-engine water scoopers,… Read More ›
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 