Due to the Dry Creek Fire’s progress to the northwest near the Tanana River in recent days, fire managers are considering taking additional steps to protect a Native allotment from the encroaching fire. If conditions allow, firefighters could conduct a burn operation as early as today to protect the allotment that sits near the confluence of the Tanana River and Hot Springs Slough.
BLM Alaska Fire Service
5-day patrol ends with little fire activity observed on fires burning east of Dalton Highway near Arctic Circle
Three firefighters finished a five-day Dalton Highway patrol Thursday to keep tabs on a couple of fires burning near the Arctic Circle about 190 miles north of Fairbanks. The Dalton Highway gang of BLM Alaska Fire Service Fire Specialist Jacob… Read More ›
Wind pushes the Dry Creek Fire four miles to the northwest
Strong southeasterly winds pushed the northern edge of the Dry Creek Fire (#195) four miles to the northwest toward the Tanana River Wednesday afternoon. The fire will likely continue to be active today due to the forecasted dry, windy weather…. Read More ›
About Mountain Fire near McGrath reports containment increased to 90% – drone to map remaining interior heat over weekend
#AboutMountainFire near McGrath reports containment increased again today and is now at 90% and remains 2,135 acres. By end of shift today, there will be 33 resources assigned to Pat Johnson’s Type 3 Incident Management Team. These resources include the… Read More ›
Rain helps smokejumpers, aircraft quell many of the two dozen new fires in Northwest Alaska
The combination of effort on the ground and from the air was successful in catching several northwestern fires before they could impact nearby Native allotments or structures. This, coupled isolated thunderstorms that accompanied the lightning that is to blame for… Read More ›
Lightning triggers at least a dozen new fires in northwestern Alaska
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.
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 ›
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.
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.