The arrival of precipitation, coupled with continued cooler temperatures, helped firefighters working in Western Alaska on Monday.
BLM Alaska Fire Service
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.
BLM announces emergency fire closure of Lower Birch Creek Wayside near Central
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.
Firefighters make progress on 3 fires in the Tanana Zone
Firefighters assigned to the Lush Fire (#199) continue working to protect structures and allotments on the north side of the Yukon River across from the community of Rampart, as the weather shifts to a cooler, wetter trend over the next few days.
Fire crews continue to arrive in Central for the Ptarmigan Complex
The Council of Athabaskan Tribal Governments Type 2 wildland firefighting crew and the Paradise Valley Type 2 hand crew arrived in Central on Sunday to help fight the fires that make up the Ptarmigan Complex.
Coordinated response underway as firefighters address wildfires in Western Alaska
With more than 30 active fires across an area the size of Montana covering Western Alaska, BLM Alaska Fire Service Galena Zone fire managers are prioritizing limited resources based on risk to values and the best chance of success.
Work continues on Ninetyeight Fire; smokejumpers contain McCoy Creek Fire
Smokejumpers continued working Sunday to protect structures and Alaska Native allotments from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), which is burning north of the Salcha River.
Alaska Type 3 team assumes command of fires burning near Central, Circle
A Type 3 incident management team composed primarily of Alaskans took command of the Ptarmigan Complex at 7 a.m. today. The Ptarmigan Complex is made up of a group of fires burning near Central and Circle. The Black Hills Wildland… Read More ›
Community meeting about Lush Fire planned for today in Rampart
There will be a community meeting in Rampart at noon today, where fire managers will update residents about the efforts to protect allotments and structures from the Lush Fire (#199). The location is to be determined.
BLM Alaska Fire Service manages multiple fires near Huslia amid high statewide activity
With all available Alaska crews either assigned or mobilizing to wildfires, additional assistance is arriving from the Lower 48. This includes the Southwest Type 3 Incident Management Team, which is slated to assume management of efforts to protect Huslia and numerous Alaska Native allotments in the fire area. Many of these allotments are located along the nearby Koyukuk River between Huslia and the affected area.
Part of Salcha River remains in Level 2 “SET” status due to Ninetyeight Fire
Ten smokejumpers worked Saturday to protect structures and Native allotments along the Salcha River from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218).
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 