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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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Hotspots still producing smoke on Ninetyeight Fire
There are still some areas of smoke that continue to pop up inside the perimeter of the Ninetyeight Fire (#218). Yesterday, the USFS R10 fire crew extended the sprinkler system along the south and southwest perimeter of the fire. Firefighters dropped snags along the fireline to remove hazard trees and monitored the fire area for potential threats as warmer and dryer weather moved in before the next chance of rain over the weekend.
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Full containment reached on Doll Fire eight miles northwest of Stevens Village; structure protection nearly complete on Polly Fire
Three fires are being staffed in the Upper Yukon Zone, including, the Doll Fire (#454), the Tlozhavun Fire (#448), and the Polly Fire (#435). Firefighters will demobilize from the Doll Fire by end of shift today. Doll Fire (#454) – Reported on July 14, mapped at 9 acres and… Read More ›
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Work continues on the Turtle Fire as backhaul operations begin on the Ptarmigan Complex
The weather area forecast for the Ptarmigan Complex continues to call for scattered moisture, cooler temperatures, and potential thunderstorms over the next few days. Fire activity across the complex yesterday was minimal, with creeping and smoldering observed. As more of the fires in the complex transition to monitor status and no heat is detected, backhaul operations are beginning with pumps and hose being removed from fires where the threat is no longer perceived.
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Recent precipitation results in minimal fire behavior on Lush and Elephant Fires
The Lush Fire (#199) is 26,544 acres, a slight reduction in sized due to more accurate mapping. The fire is located in the north side of the Yukon River, across from Rampart. Yesterday, the fire received intermittent patchy rain in the morning, before switching into a light and steady rain all afternoon. There was no notable fire activity yesterday.
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Hard work from R10 crew continues on the Ninetyeight fire
Crews continued working along the south and southwest edges of the Ninetyeight Fire (#218) to confine the fire north of the Salcha river. Recent precipitation over the area is keeping the fire at a creeping and smoldering pace.
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Welcome rain stalls growth on the Roundabout Complex
The Moldy Fire (#279) remains the only active fire within the Roundabout Complex, now totaling 73,085 acres. Rain fell overnight and continues this morning. Firefighters have continued success with point protection measures, such as with Huslia’s microwave communications tower. No changes to evacuation levels and no firefighter injuries or accidents were reported.
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Rain arrives in northwest Alaska, slows fire activity
Measurable rainfall has arrived in northwest Alaska, slowing down fire activity in the BLM Alaska Fire Service’s Galena Zone.
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Smokejumpers respond to new fire near Stevens Village; more crews mobilize to Polly Fire
Three fires are being staffed in the Upper Yukon Zone, including a new start, the Doll Fire (#454) which was discovered on July 14, the Tzolhavun Fire (#448), and the Polly Fire (#435).
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Crews transition on Ptarmigan Complex, thunderstorms bring wind and light precipitation
The weather area forecast for the Ptarmigan Complex continues to call for scattered moisture, cooler temperatures, and potential thunderstorms over the next few days. Fire activity across the complex yesterday was minimal with the increased activity occurring on the Buckley Bar Fire and the southern end of the Turtle Fire after a series of thunderstorms brought strong winds to the complex in the early evening.
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Weather conditions aid firefighters on the Lush and Elephant Fires
The Elephant Fire (#225) located approximately 5 miles north of the Eureka Highway, showed minimal fire activity again yesterday. There was creeping and smoldering observed within the fire perimeter. The total fire acreage remains at 8,941 acres. Yesterday, the fire received a couple hours of precipitation. Scattered storms are anticipated today along with gusty southwesterly winds.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 