FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Much of the McDonald Fire received light rain and cooler temperatures on Monday, calming fire activity. Although the rain wasn’t enough to wet the vegetation, it helped clear the air and lighten the smoke layer. Some stronger… Read More ›
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The McDonald Fire remains active, even in old burn areas. Facilitated by persistent hot, dry conditions, the fire is running through dry grasses and traveling through stringers of black spruce trees. Expected cooler temperatures and higher overnight… Read More ›
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Flanking, backing, and some torching were observed on the McDonald Fire on Friday, resulting in about 8,000 acres of growth. Landscape features such as previously burned areas, rivers, and streams continue to hold the fire, although the… Read More ›
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Fire behavior on the McDonald Fire moderated somewhat on Thursday. Isolated, light sprinkles on the north area of the fire resulted in localized cooler temperatures, assisting suppression efforts. As the fire burns into fire scars (previously burned… Read More ›
Size: 107,391 acres Personnel: 83 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Fire behavior continues to be active on the McDonald Fire. Both the Clear Fire and McDonald Fire saw growth yesterday, and as of today’s shift the fires have merged. Pioneer… Read More ›
Size: 62,507 acres Personnel: 72 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Fire behavior was active again Tuesday, ranging from group torching to backing and flanking around the entire perimeter. Group torching is defined as the burning of a small group of… Read More ›
Size: 54,158 acres Personnel: 83 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – After two weeks managing efforts on the McDonald Fire, command of the fire to a new Type 3 incident management organization occurred at 7 a.m., Tuesday. The two groups spent… Read More ›
Information on staffed wildfires burning in BLM AFS protection area covering most of northern Alaska.
Size: 50,262 acres Personnel: 83 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Sunday was another hot and dry day on the McDonald Fire with temperatures reaching a high of 82 degrees, with a low humidity of 24%. Firefighters continue to monitor burnout operations… Read More ›
Fire managers prepositioned additional resources at the Smokejumper Base on Fort Wainwright with warm temperatures and high lightning activity forecast. There is high demand for the 70 Alaska-based smokejumpers and 54 additional smokejumpers from the lower 48. After yet another… Read More ›
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 