Smith River Hotshots constructed three-quarters of a mile of indirect line Wednesday near Mile 148 to help protect Alaska Native allotments near the Birch Creek Bridge. That work will continue today. The Alaska Range Module will continue to assess, prioritize, and prep structures along the Steese Highway.
This morning, a Type 3 Incident Management Team took command of the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), which is burning north of the Salcha River.
Tuesday, the Lush Fire (#199) experienced minimal fire behavior with backing and creeping fire and occasional tree torching. This fire behavior is expected to continue over the next day as a cooler, wetter weather pattern is in the area.
The fires that make up the Ptarmigan Complex near Central and Circle received wetting rain from thunderstorms that passed through the area overnight. A quarter inch of rain was recorded at the portable weather station firefighters set up east of Central.
The Plumas Hotshots arrived in Western Alaska on Tuesday to join the eight smokejumpers who have been working on the Richards Fire (#251), located about nine miles west of Huslia.
The Ninetyeight Fire (#218), which is burning north of the Salcha River, received wetting rain Monday, and the fire showed decreased activity overall. Rain will likely continue on and off for the next few days.
On Monday, the Lush Fire (#199) experienced limited fire perimeter growth with moderate fire behavior and isolated tree torching on the interior of the perimeter. Isolated areas of the fire received approximately 0.3” of rain yesterday.
The fires that make up the Ptarmigan Complex near Central and Circle experienced wetting rain and thunderstorms overnight. More rain and thunderstorms are expected today. This will impact helicopter flights and some operations.
The arrival of precipitation, coupled with continued cooler temperatures, helped firefighters working in Western Alaska on Monday.
To protect the public and provide for firefighter safety in light of ongoing wildland fire activity associated with the Turtle Fire (#243), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office announced the closure Monday night of the Lower Birch Creek Wayside near Mile 140 of the Steese Highway.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 