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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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Containment improves as crews push forward
Firefighters continue their determined efforts to contain the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), achieving 40% of their containment objectives despite persistent warm and dry conditions. Saturday’s fire behavior remained minimal, marked by creeping, smoldering, and isolated torching. The most concentrated heat continues to be located in the fire’s southwest corner and northern edge.
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Smokejumpers begin point protection on Fortymile River
Two active fires are being staffed in the Upper Yukon zone, the Tsukon Fire (#382) and the Polly Fire (#435). Both are being managed under a point protection strategy.
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Firefighters finish work on some NW Alaska fires; shift focus to other incidents
Smokejumpers assigned to a handful of fires burning in the BLM Alaska Fire Service’s Galena Zone have completed their work on some fires and are shifting their focus to other incidents.
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Containment efforts advance on the Elephant and Lush fires as weather trends hotter and drier
Fire behavior was slightly more active on the Elephant (#225) and Lush (#199) fires yesterday but remained minimal overall. Crews made steady progress, taking advantage of favorable weather to continue work on firelines and structure protection.
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Crews adjust tactics on Ninetyeight Fire after boat incident
Firefighters are making steady progress toward protecting cabins and other values at risk from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218) as warmer, drier conditions persist across the area. Forty percent of the work toward this goal has been completed. No growth has been observed and the fire behavior Friday included creeping and smoldering with isolated torching.
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No heat found on Deadwood Fire yesterday using drone module; drying trend continues on Ptarmigan Complex
Moderate fire activity was present yesterday with creeping and smoldering observed. Individual trees were observed torching on the Turtle Fire (#243) and individual smokes were visible from the Buckley Bar Fire (#264). The area expects to see a warming and drying trend for the weekend. This may lead to an increase in fire activity and smoke.
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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.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 