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.
Firefighters continue their determined efforts to contain the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), achieving 40% of their containment objectives despite persistent warm and dry conditions. Saturday’s fire behavior remained minimal, marked by creeping, smoldering, and isolated torching. The most concentrated heat continues to be located in the fire’s southwest corner and northern edge.
Two active fires are being staffed in the Upper Yukon zone, the Tsukon Fire (#382) and the Polly Fire (#435). Both are being managed under a point protection strategy.
Fire behavior was slightly more active on the Elephant (#225) and Lush (#199) fires yesterday but remained minimal overall. Crews made steady progress, taking advantage of favorable weather to continue work on firelines and structure protection.
Firefighters are making steady progress toward protecting cabins and other values at risk from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218) as warmer, drier conditions persist across the area. Forty percent of the work toward this goal has been completed. No growth has been observed and the fire behavior Friday included creeping and smoldering with isolated torching.
Moderate fire activity was present yesterday with creeping and smoldering observed. Individual trees were observed torching on the Turtle Fire (#243) and individual smokes were visible from the Buckley Bar Fire (#264). The area expects to see a warming and drying trend for the weekend. This may lead to an increase in fire activity and smoke.
The Roundabout Complex has grown to 49,457 acres, with all 1,600 acres of new growth occurring on the Moldy Fire (#279). Additional growth on the Moldy Fire overnight is suspected. The drying and warming trend continues, with no measurable rainfall over the fire area for the past 16 days. Precipitation is forecasted for next week.
The Upper Yukon Zone has seen a return to warming and drying as of Friday morning. This trend will continue as temperatures are expected to reach into the upper seventies and low eighties on Saturday. Sunday has the potential to bring moisture and thunderstorms to the area, and lightning is expected. Two staffed fires have recently transitioned into monitor status, and the Tsukon (#382) remains staffed under a point protection strategy. Smokejumpers have responded to the Polly Fire (#435), a new start.
Four smokejumpers have responded to protect structures along the Fortymile River from a fire burning 34 miles south of Eagle. The Poly Fire (#435), located 2 miles east of milepost 108 of Taylor Highway, is burning in black spruce and exhibiting extreme fire behavior.
Update at 6:35 p.m. from the U.S. Forest Service about the firefighters injured in today’s boating incident on the Salcha River. Forest Service News Release Media Contact:Region 5 Media DeskSM.FS.MediaDeskR5@usda.gov California Firefighters Injured in Boating Incident on Salcha River FAIRBANKS, Alaska… Read More ›
There was no significant fire growth on the Elephant (#225) or Lush (#199) fires yesterday. Firefighters took advantage of the favorable conditions to strengthen control lines and backhaul unneeded equipment.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 