Bean Complex – Alaska Wildland Fire Information

Fulton Hotshots hiking on fire during their time on the Bean Complex. Photo credit: Kylie Paul Fulton Hotshot Crew

Bean Complex transitions command to the BLM Alaska Fire Service Tanana Fire Management Zone

By beancomplex2022 on August 3, 2022

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 4 returned command of the Bean Complex to the BLM Alaska Fire Service Tanana Fire Management Zone at 9 a.m. Wednesday. This will be the final daily Bean Complex update unless fire activity increases significantly…. Read More ›

Alaska Fire Service dispatch is the main communication link for fire and aviation resources. Dispatchers are working at their computers to assist firefighters with ordering what is needed for fires. Photo credit: Beth Ipsen, BLM AFS

Bean Complex receives strong support from the fire service dispatch center and fire cache

By beancomplex2022 on August 2, 2022

All seven fires on the Bean Complex are now unstaffed and will be monitored by air. Equipment and supplies are being hauled from Manley Hot Springs to the BLM Alaska Fire Service Cache in Fairbanks. Cleaning of facilities in Manley… Read More ›

Incident Management Team at command post in Fairbanks conduct daily operational briefings by radio to inform all fire resources on the Bean Complex. Radio repeaters make it possible to communicate with firefighters in remote areas. Incident Meteorologist using base station radio phone to give weather briefing. People from other sections listen to briefing and their turn to brief over the radio in radio room. Photo credit: Tomas Liogys

Field operations completed and radio repeater system being removed on the Bean Complex

By beancomplex2022 on August 1, 2022

All the structure protection and fireline equipment have been hauled out from the fires and staged at Manley Hot Springs for ground transport. The last firefighters are also back to Manley Hot Springs and all the fires are now unstaffed… Read More ›

Firefighters, equipment and supplies being shuttled on the river by boats. The bow of the river boat moving down the Tanana River with firefighter gear and cooler. Photo credit: Kylie Paul Fulton IHC

Bean Complex now at 90% completion

By beancomplex2022 on July 31, 2022

Over the past two days, Operations personnel have been able to make significant progress on dismantling structure protection and fireline equipment and hauling it to Manley Hot Springs by helicopter and motorboat. The equipment is then packaged for ground transport… Read More ›

Fulton Hotshots hiking on the Bean Complex for their work day in frontier of Alaska. Wildland fire crews hike in line for many reasons, especially for safety. The leader picks the path, sets the pace, and communicates messages such as any hazards to watch for along the way. Messages are passed up and down the line like the game of telephone. This type of communication is extremely important when crewmembers do not have radios and it builds crew cohesion. Black and white photo of firefighting crew hiking in a line with their initial attack packs on a hand tools and chainsaws in their hands. Photo credit: Kylie Paul, Fulton Hotshot

Incident Meteorologist has been a valuable team member on the Bean Complex

By beancomplex2022 on July 30, 2022

Warm and sunny weather conditions dominated the region again on Friday, allowing for continued helicopter and motorboat hauling work. No measurable amounts of rain were recorded over the fire area over the past 24 hours, yet fire activity remained smoldering… Read More ›

Bean Complex work with Tanana 440 boat race organizers to make it a success

By beancomplex2022 on July 29, 2022

Tanana 440 Boat Race occurred on July 23 – 24, 2022 on the Tanana River. Boat racers must maneuver 800 of the toughest river miles in the world from Fairbanks to Tanana, AK. Race organizers and Bean Complex incident management… Read More ›

Unused fire equipment, supplies and trash are being hauled back to Manley Forward Operating Base (FOB). This is accomplished by firefighters securely packing items to be transported by boat or helicopter. In remote areas, cargo sling loads are netted up and really to be hauled off by helicopter. Each cargo load has a weight that is given to the pilot to ensure safe transported by the helicopter. Black and white photo of two cargo nets with fire hose rolls, boxes and barrels. Firefighter walking in the burned area with burned trees in the background. Photo credit: Kylie Paul, Fulton Hotshot Crew

Helicopter flight confirms minimal fire activity on the Bean Complex

By beancomplex2022 on July 29, 2022

On Thursday, the Fire Behavior Analyst, Incident Meteorologist, and operational personnel took a helicopter flight over much of the fire area to assess fire behavior and weather conditions. Fire activity was witnessed as smoldering and minimal. Subsurface hotspots remained scattered… Read More ›

Firefighter looking out of helicopter window with flight helmet on. View outside is green trees and hills. Helicopter Managers conduct reconnaissance's of fire area to gain knowledge of fire situation and approve new helispots if needed to support operations in getting firefighters and supplies in and out of remote areas. Photo credit: Lewistown Interagency Helitack

Distance and travel times influence crew and equipment movement on the Bean Complex

By beancomplex2022 on July 28, 2022

At the Bean Complex, due to the remote location and travel time to the fires it takes planning two to three days of travel to bring the crews out. The number of people assigned to the fire will gradually decrease… Read More ›

Fulton Hotshot crewmembers cutting trees and brush on the Bean Complex. One firefighter using a chainsaw to cut trees and brush. One firefighter pulling cut trees out of the way and another firefighter walking to grab more brush.

Bean Complex reaches 85% completion

By beancomplex2022 on July 27, 2022

Following weeks of work by firefighters to implement a point protection strategy, where structures are protected but minimum work is done on control lines around the fire’s edge, crews reached 85% completion of these goals. The goals include some fireline… Read More ›

Motor boat on Tanana River with used fire hose loaded inside docked on the shore at Manley. Boat driver and firefighter talking on near boat. Clouds with blue sky and river is brownish color.

High winds slow equipment removal work on the Bean Complex

By beancomplex2022 on July 26, 2022

After three straight days of warm and dry weather, fire activity continues to creep and smolder without threatening structures or burning outside the established control line or fire’s edge. A trace of rain moved over the complex area since Monday…. Read More ›