The combination of effort on the ground and from the air was successful in catching several northwestern fires before they could impact nearby Native allotments or structures. This, coupled isolated thunderstorms that accompanied the lightning that is to blame for… Read More ›
Galena Zone Fires
Lightning triggers at least a dozen new fires in northwestern Alaska
A wave of lightning moved across the northwestern part of the state Tuesday afternoon, triggering about a dozen new fires from Galena north to the Noatak River Valley. Some of the new fires drew quick response from smokejumpers, water-scooping aircraft and another aircraft to help coordinate the suppression efforts and relaying situational information back to BLM AFS Galena Zone fire managers in Galena.
Smoke impacts communities south of two large fires burning in the Northwest Arctic
Smoke from two large lightning-caused tundra fires burning north of Kotzebue is impacting surrounding villages to the south. The Noatak River Fire (#232) burning in the Noatak National Preserve 120 miles northeast of Kotzebue grew significantly over the past few… Read More ›
Firefighters, aircraft make quick work of fires in Western Alaska
Smokejumpers and aircraft quickly subdued a pair of lightning-caused tundra fires in western Alaska Saturday evening. The Goblet Creek Fire (#241) was reported burning about 10 miles southwest of Grayling and the Little Noatak Slough Fire (#240) was reported burning north… Read More ›
Lightning ignites at least 15 fires across Alaska this weekend
Firefighters and aircraft were are busy Sunday working on two lightning-caused fires burning within 25 miles of Unlakleet with more firefighters slated to joint the effort after lightning became a big factor in new fire starts in Alaska this weekend…. Read More ›
BLM AFS continues work on three fires in Western Alaska
Of the 21 active fires burning in BLM Alaska Fire Service protection area that covers most of the northern half of the state, the only three staff are in the Galena Fire Management Zone. As of today, 63 fires have… Read More ›
BLM AFS working on two fires in Western Alaska
BLM Alaska Fire Service responded to a new fire about 17 miles north of Russian Mission today while work continues on the Lake Minakokosa Fire (#221) burning 50 miles east of Kobuk. Two fire Boss aircraft and eight smokejumpers are… Read More ›
BLM AFS Smokejumpers, water-scoopers keep busy on Western Alaska fires
The BLM Alaska Fire Service Galena Zone responded to several new fires in Western Alaska the past few days. After successfully suppressing one fire near Unalakleet on Sunday, smokejumpers and water-scooping Fire Boss aircraft worked on two fires Monday –… Read More ›
BLM AFS smokejumpers, aircraft kept busy by west coast fires
A fire burning outside the Stebbins dump and another burning on the tundra 29 miles to the south kept BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers busy throughout most of Friday night and a good portion of Saturday morning. Instead of settling… Read More ›
Lightning triggers 19 new starts in BLM AFS’s Galena Zone Tuesday
BLM Alaska Fire Service’s Galena Zone experienced 19 new starts Tuesday due to a rash of lightning hitting the southwestern Yukon River corridor. The new starts occurred in either limited – the lowest priority – and full management option areas…. Read More ›