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.
The Cheenik Fire (#349) near Golovin has been contained to 1 acre thanks to the quick work of local residents. Smokejumpers assigned to the fire carefully checked the perimeter and found no heat. They will conduct one more check tonight and another tomorrow morning as a precaution before calling the fire out.
Firefighters have achieved 70% containment on the Cecil Fire (#315), while the Big Fire (#313) continues to hold at 10% contained. For Friday, warmer and drier weather is expected as the possibility of thunderstorms increases. Storms could be slow moving with heavy rain; however, if they miss the fires, temperatures will climb back into the 70s.
Two dozen smokejumpers had the Siruk Fire (#340) 30% contained at the end of their shift Thursday night. The fire is estimated at 550 acres and continues to burn in tundra tussocks and scattered spruce trees.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 