A wave of lightning moved across the northwestern part of the state Tuesday afternoon, triggering about a dozen new fires from Galena north to the Noatak River Valley. Some of the new fires drew quick response from smokejumpers, water-scooping aircraft and another aircraft to help coordinate the suppression efforts and relaying situational information back to BLM AFS Galena Zone fire managers in Galena.
Active Wildland Fire
Smoke impacts communities south of two large fires burning in the Northwest Arctic
Smoke from two large lightning-caused tundra fires burning north of Kotzebue is impacting surrounding villages to the south. The Noatak River Fire (#232) burning in the Noatak National Preserve 120 miles northeast of Kotzebue grew significantly over the past few… Read More ›
Full containment expected on George Lake Fire southeast of Delta Jct on Wednesday
A hotshot crew is nearing full containment of the 6-acre George Lake Fire (#225) located approximately 40 miles southeast of Delta Junction. The fire was reported to be 85 percent contained as of Tuesday morning and the 20-person Baker River… Read More ›
Straight Creek Fire 20% contained; Winter Trail Fire declared out
Two crews continue to mop up the 24-acre Straight Creek Fire (#244) north of the Parks Highway near Mile 325. The fire located 2 miles north of the highway behind Skinny Dick’s bar was 20 percent contained as of Tuesday… Read More ›
Firefighters using packrafts and drones to seek out hot spots on About Mountain Fire near McGrath
Firefighters on foot and in packrafts continued accessing hard-to-reach areas of the 2,135-acre About Mountain Fire near McGrath in southwest Alaska on Monday to boost containment of the fire located 6 miles south of McGrath along the Kuskokwim River. Containment… Read More ›
Work wrapping up on the Little Albert Creek Fire near Central
Firefighters are wrapping up work on the Little Albert Creek Fire (#206) burning about 5 miles west of Central. With more than 50% of the 536-acre fire contained Sunday night, the 20-person Snake River Valley #12 Type 2 Initial Attack crew demobilized Monday, leaving the job of making sure the fire is completely out to the BLM Alaska Fire Service Chena Hotshots. The Chena Hotshots anticipate having the job finished tonight and demobilizing Tuesday.
About Mountain Fire near McGrath now 60% contained as crews continue mopping up
Containment on the 2,135-acre About Mountain fire near McGrath in southwest Alaska climbed to 60 percent on Monday as firefighters continued to benefit from cool, overcast weather. Fire managers Monday reported no new growth on the fire burning along the… Read More ›
Firefighters mopping up 20-acre wildfire behind Skinny Dick’s bar on Parks Highway; work wrapping up on other Fairbanks fires
Firefighters are mopping up a 20-acre wildfire approximately 2 miles north of the Parks Highway near Mile 325 after a quick and aggressive aerial attack Sunday helped keep the fire in check until firefighters on the ground could be mobilized…. Read More ›
Activity slows on pair of fires in northeastern Alaska as BLM AFS keeps an eye out for new lightning-caused ignitions
Work is wrapping up on two fires in northeastern Alaska as BLM Alaska Fire Service keeps an eye out for new starts from lightning that have dotted the warmest and driest part of the state in the past few days. BLM AFS personnel will continue flying detection flights over areas that experienced lightning. Update on Little Albert Creek Fire; Olsons Lake Fire and Preacher Creek Fire burning in the Upper Yukon Fire Management Zone.
Weather helps firefighters, subdues activity on fires near Manley, Tolovana hot springs
Moderated weather conditions have allowed firefighters to advance efforts on fires burning near the Tolovana Hot Springs and south of Manley Hot Springs. As eight smokejumpers continue to mop up the Washington Creek Fire (#231) about 1 1/2 miles south of the Tolovana Hot Springs, other firefighters are building fire breaks around sites within striking distance of the <Dry Creek Fire (#195) burning south of Manley. Higher humidity levels and even a little bit of rain has kept fire activity in check on the Dry Creek Fire and has helped efforts on the Washington Creek Fire. Smokejumpers plan to finish work and demobilize from the 2-acre Washington Creek Fire around midweek.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 