BLM Alaska Fire Service

Smoke rises from the Haystack Fire north of Fairbanks. Red retardant lines are visible on the left side of the fire.

Haystack Fire estimated at 500 acres; crews and dozers working to build control lines

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 15, 2021

UPDATE 10 p.m. The Haystack Fire north of Fairbanks is currently estimated 500 acres and crews are working diligently to secure the southern edge of the fire to protect residences in the Haystack Subdivision, which is located approximately 2 miles… Read More ›

A smoke column rises from the About Mountain Fire (#193) along the east bank of the Kuskokwim River on Monday night, June 14, 2021

State forestry working to confine, contain 300-acre wildfire 6 miles south of McGrath on Kuskokwim River

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 15, 2021

The Alaska Division of Forestry has deployed a team of 12 smokejumpers from the BLM Alaska Fire Service on an estimated 300-acre wildfire burning along the east bank of the Kuskokwim River approximately 6 miles south of McGrath. The About… Read More ›

An aerial shot showing a smoke column during initial attack of the 20-acre Winter Trail Fire (#194) burning about 20 miles northeast of Fairbanks near the Fort Knox Gold Mine. The mine road is visible in the bottom fo the photo. Tony Chapman/BLM Alaska Fire Service

Firefighters gain ground containing wildfires near Haystack Mountain and Ft. Knox Gold Mine north of Fairbanks

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 14, 2021

Firefighters from both the Division of Forestry and BLM Alaska Fire Service are making progress containing two wildfires about 20 miles apart north of Fairbanks. Approximately 60 firefighter personnel are attacking the Haystack Fire (#196), is located about one-half mile… Read More ›

This photo taken at 11:30 a.m. today, Monday, June 14 reveals little smoke rising from the Loon Lake Fire (#180) following Sunday's aerial attack by water and retardant bombing aircraft. The fire denoted by the burned area at the edge of the lake. Jason Jordet/Division of Forestry Air Attack

Loon Lake Fire 15% contained and size reduced to 75 acres, more firefighters on the way

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 14, 2021

Better mapping has reduced the size of the Loon Lake Fire (#180) burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge from 150 to approximately 75 acres as of early Monday morning. Little growth was expected overnight following an aggressive aerial attack… Read More ›

A 7 p.m. photo of the Loon Lake Fire (#180) following an aggessive aeiral attack that included water and retardant drops from multiple aircraft. The red retardant lines are meant to box the fire in and stall its progress while firefighters on the ground can construct a containment line.

Aerial attack greatly reduces fire behavior on 150-acre Loon Lake Fire

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 13, 2021

Here’s a 7 p.m. photo of the Loon Lake Fire following a ramped-up aerial assault on the 150-acre wildfire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge that included water drops from two water-scooping aircraft from the BLM Alaska Fire Service… Read More ›

A member of the BLM Alaska Fire Service Northstar Fire Crew unties a sling load of supplies that was dropped by helicopter for firefighters working on the Rosie Creek Fire (#174) on Saturday, June 12, 2021.

Firefighters gain ground containing Rosie Creek and Salcha River wildfires near Fairbanks

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 13, 2021

Firefighters continue working to fully contain two small wildfires burning on opposite sides of the Tanana Valley near Fairbanks. The 1-acre Rosie Creek Fire (#174), which was reported early Saturday afternoon in the Rosie Creek area about 14 miles southwest… Read More ›

Smoke rises form the Rosie Creek Fire (#174) that was reported at around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 12, 2021 approximately 14 miles southwest of Fairbanks and 3 miles south of the Parks Highway

Aggressive aerial attack quashes small wildfire in Rosie Creek area southwest of Fairbanks

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 12, 2021

A rapid aerial assault by water-bombing aircraft has helped tame a small wildfire in the Rosie Creek area south of Fairbanks in check while firefighters on the ground mobilize to further contain the blaze. The Rosie Creek Fire (#174) was… Read More ›

An aerial photo of the Salcha River Fire (#169) taken at around 3 p.m. on Thursday. The SaIcha River is visible in the background to the north. Matt Nunnelly/Division of Forestry

Firefighters increase containment on Salcha River Fire to 30 percent as warmer weather looms

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 12, 2021

Nearly 50 firefighters continued hammering away at the Salcha River Fire (#169) on Friday to strengthen control lines and increase containment on the 7-acre fire burning 25 air miles up the Salcha River. The fire is located on a hillside… Read More ›

An aerial photo of the Salcha River Fire (#169) taken at around 3 p.m. on Thursday. If you look closely you can see the hose lay around the fire in the bottom right corner. Matt Nunnelly/Division of Forestry

Salcha River Fire 20% contained; crews seeking out hot spots inside perimeter

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 10, 2021

Firefighters have achieved 20 percent containment on the 7-acre Salcha River Fire (#169) and the fire should be fully corralled by Sunday if all goes according to plan, fire managers with the Alaska Division of Forestry reported Thursday night. A… Read More ›

The SalchaRiverFire (#169) remains at an estimated 7 acres and more than 50 firefighters are working to secure containment lines around the fire to ensure it doesn’t threaten multiple cabins along the river a short distance away. The fire is approximately 25 air miles up the Salcha River from the Richardson Highway and is located about a quarter mile south of the river. The fire was originally reported to be about 1 mile north of the river but the location was changed due to more accurate mapping coordinates. The fire is about 1 ½ air miles northeast of the point where Flat Creek flows into the Salcha River. There are multiple cabins on both the south and north sides of the river in that area but they are not considered threatened at this point. Two Type 2 initial attack crews – White Mountain and Tanana Chiefs - were both flown into the fire by helicopter last evening to join eight smokejumpers from the BLM Alaska Fire Service and four Helitack firefighters from Fairbanks Area forestry that were initially deployed on the fire. The fire is believed to be a lightning-caused holdover from lightning in the area in previous days. It was reported just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday by military range control personnel who could see smoke in the area. The initial report sized it up as 3 acres burning in black spruce and mixed hardwoods. The Division of Forestry launched an aggressive aerial assault on the fire that included water drops from two water-scooping aircraft and a helicopter, as well as two retardant drops from an air tanker. Retardant was dropped between the cabins on the south side of the river and the fire to slow any spread toward the cabins and on the south flank of the fire to slow its spread in that direction. Fire managers reported “minimal spread” once aircraft began dropping water and retardant on and around the fire. Fire managers expect it will take crews about four days to fully contain the fire. Supplies are being shuttled into crews by helicopter from a staging area set up in Salcha.

More than 50 firefighters working to contain 7-acre Salcha River Fire

By Alaska Division of Forestry on June 10, 2021

The Salcha River Fire (#169) remains at an estimated 7 acres and more than 50 firefighters are working to secure containment lines around the fire to ensure it doesn’t spread toward multiple cabins along the river a short distance away…. Read More ›