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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crews are beginning to pivot tactics on key fires across the 14,302-acre Roundabout Complex, as weather conditions shift this week. While some areas remain in monitor status, active fires are seeing continued prep, securing, and mop-up operations. A period of drying followed by light precipitation is improving access and revealing fuels, creating opportunities to adjust strategies where conditions allow.
The Lush Fire (#199) is located one mile northwest of Rampart, just across the Yukon River. The fire behavior yesterday was creeping and smoldering with isolated torching. The weather forecast calls for increasing temperatures through the week which will likely cause an increase in fire behavior. There is no chance for precipitation in the upcoming forecast.
Yesterday the Ninetyeight Fire (#218) received light precipitation and showed limited fire activity; creeping and smoldering, but no torching. Helicopter bucket drops were again used to cool hotspots on the southwest corner of the fire. The eastern front of the fire is looking good, without much fire activity. The fire perimeter is approximately 5,028 acres in size.
The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday due to a forecast that calls for hot, dry weather and windy conditions. In preparation, firefighters assigned to the Ptarmigan Complex worked over the past several days to reinforce saw lines and improve protection for Alaska Native allotments and other values at risk.
The Otter Fire (#344) about 50 miles northeast of Venetie is fully contained but not controlled. A dozen smokejumpers also continue to fight the Fortymile Fire (#355) near Fortymile Creek about 25 miles northwest of Beaver.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 