The Oskawalik Fire (#122) continued to spread to the north and west Sunday as a result of steady southeast winds and dry fuels. The wildfire south of Crooked Creek along the Kuskowkwim River is now estimated to be approximately 1,400… Read More ›
Kuskokwim River
Firefighters work to contain Oskawalik Fire in southwest Alaska
After a strong initial attack Saturday, the Oskawalik Fire (#122) is currently an estimated 350 acres and listed at five percent contained. Firefighters worked on a direct attack along the fire’s edge and point protection for cabins and Native Allotments… Read More ›
Helitack and Aircraft respond to new fire west of Sleetmute
10:00 PM Update: Located 10 miles south of Crooked Creek and 35 miles west of Sleetmute, the Oskawalik Fire (#122) has grown to more than 300 acres. A 16-person fuels mitigation crew from McGrath joined the 24 smokejumpers (2 loads) and 5… Read More ›
Firefighters using packrafts and drones to seek out hot spots on About Mountain Fire near McGrath
Firefighters on foot and in packrafts continued accessing hard-to-reach areas of the 2,135-acre About Mountain Fire near McGrath in southwest Alaska on Monday to boost containment of the fire located 6 miles south of McGrath along the Kuskokwim River. Containment… Read More ›
About Mountain Fire near McGrath now 60% contained as crews continue mopping up
Containment on the 2,135-acre About Mountain fire near McGrath in southwest Alaska climbed to 60 percent on Monday as firefighters continued to benefit from cool, overcast weather. Fire managers Monday reported no new growth on the fire burning along the… Read More ›
State forestry working to confine, contain 300-acre wildfire 6 miles south of McGrath on Kuskokwim River
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 ›
Firefighters gain ground containing two wildfires burning near Southwest Alaska villages
Firefighters are making good progress in containing two human-caused fires burning in Southwest Alaska, one near the village of Pilot Point on the Alaska Peninsula and one near the village of Akiachak on the Kuskokwim River. The Kiktak Island Fire… Read More ›
Firefighters continue work to contain Southwest Alaska wildfires near Pilot Point and Akiachak
Firefighters continue working to stamp out two human-caused wildfires burning in southwest Alaska, one near the coastal village of Pilot Point on the Alaska Peninsula and one near the village of Akiachak along the Kuskokwim River. Twelve smokejumpers from the… Read More ›
Smokejumpers deployed to wildfire threatening fish camp, allotments on Kuskokwim River near Akiachak
The Alaska Division of Forestry deployed 12 smokejumpers on an estimated 100-acre wildfire burning near the village of Akiachak in southwest Alaska Tuesday afternoon to protect a fish camp and Native allotments surrounding the fire. The smokejumpers, from the BLM… Read More ›
Southwest Area Wildfire Update: More new lightning-caused fires; firefighters protecting two gold mines, one village, cabins and allotments
Eleven new lightning-caused fires were discovered in the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Southwest Area on Friday and more new fires are anticipated as a result of thousands of lightning strikes over the past three days. More than 1,500 lightning strikes… Read More ›