Firefighters wrapped up work on the Cecil Fire, and others continued making steady progress on the nearby Big Fire. The two incidents were managed together in Ruby by a Type 3 incident management team. The lightning‑caused fires were detected on June 26 and are located about 11 miles east of Ruby, separated by roughly half a mile. Neither fire is threatening the community or nearby Native allotments.
The nine-person Woodhawk Wildland Fire Module from Montana is demobilizing from the Big Fire near Ruby today and will support the eight smokejumpers already working the Bean Fire, which is currently estimated at 10% containment.
The Bean Fire (#362) was initially estimated at 80 acres and was burning at a moderate rate of spread, with fire running and torching through brush and tussocks. Smokejumpers on scene reported that water‑scooping aircraft were very effective in stopping most of the fire’s forward movement.
The fire is estimated at 25 acres. Smokejumpers were able to encircle the fire and reached 50% containment Saturday night. Today, they will continue targeting and extinguishing hot spots. They report that fuels in the area are dry, however, the fire is not burning deep, making remaining heat easier to extinguish.
Firefighters took advantage of overcast skies, brief light rain, and minimal fire activity on Saturday to increase containment on the Siruk Fire (#340), burning 23 miles northwest of Allakaket, to 60%. The fire is estimated at 619 acres.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chena Hotshots arrived Saturday and reinforced control line on the eastern flank, while smokejumpers worked to secure line on the western side.
Eight smokejumpers are working to contain a new wildfire in the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge. The Cone Fire (#353) was detected Saturday using satellite imagery. The fire is 21.5 acres and 50% contained tonight.
Eight smokejumpers, three single-engine water-scooping planes, and an air attack plane responded Saturday to the Ready Bullion Fire (#356) near the airport in Livengood and contained it.
Firefighters have declared the Cheenik Fire near Golovin out and could do the same with the Christmas Fire near Shaktoolik by the end of their shift on Saturday.
Smokejumpers have a control line reinforced with a hose lay along the east flank of the Siruk Fire. They have identified hotspots along the southern and northwestern edges of the fire and used water drops from helicopters on Friday while identifying opportunities to put in control lines in those areas.
Ten smokejumpers supported by water-scooping aircraft responded Friday night to a new wildfire near Shaktoolik. The Christmas Fire (#350) is about 8 miles east of Shaktoolik, 1.5 miles north of the Shaktoolik River, and 1 mile west of Third Creek.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 