More than 170 wildfires ignited across Interior Alaska between June 15 and 29 during the 2025 Alaska fire season, most sparked by lightning. Fueled by hot, dry weather and almost 83,000 lightning strikes near the summer solstice, several fires quickly threatened homes, disrupted highways, and triggered evacuations across vast distances.
The number of staffed fires in the BLM Alaska Fire Service protection area continues to decline. Most fires are now in monitor status. Some are being allowed to fulfill their natural ecological role, while firefighters focus on protecting nearby sites of value, transporting unneeded equipment back to the BLM AFS Cache in Fairbanks, or completing administrative tasks.
The Uncle Sam Creek Fire (#376) is currently 873 acres and is located about 19 miles east of Salcha, between Uncle Sam and McCoy creeks. This lightning-caused fire first discovered on July 3 and was initially responded to with helitack… Read More ›
Operations are winding down across much of Alaska as rain has reduced fire activity and the need for firefighting resources — except in eastern Alaska, where conditions remain hot and dry.
Twelve BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers were mobilized Monday night to protect an Alaska Native allotment along the Sheenjek River from the Christian Fire (#255), burning about 50 miles north of Fort Yukon. The fire has burned approximately 52,400 acres within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge and remains active.
While fire season is winding down in much of Alaska, eastern regions remain hot and dry, keeping fire danger elevated. A load of BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers is mobilizing Monday evening to protect an Alaska Native allotment from the Christian Fire (#255), about 50 miles north of Fort Yukon.
In BLM AFS’s protection area, 166 active fires remain amidst warmer, drier weather conditions, prompting increased vigilance from fire managers. So far, 404 fires have burned nearly 1 million acres. Crews are completing suppression tasks on major fires like Ptarmigan and Lush, while remaining prepared for potential new fire activity.
The Middle and Lower Salcha River Level 2 “Set” evacuation notices has been downgraded to a Level 1 “Ready” due to moderated fire activity and work completed by firefighters to protect the cabins and other sites from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218). All Salcha River area evacuation levels are now at Level 1 “Ready,” which means residents should be ready for potential evacuation. The evacuation map and other information can be found on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations website at Fairbanks North Star Borough. Text WILDFIRES to 67283 to receive text notifications.
Today will be the last written update for the Ninetyeight Fire (#218) which remained in a creeping and smoldering pattern with some single tree torching. Yesterday crews continued progression of the fireline along the south and southwest corner. Completion of objectives (keep fire north of Salcha river) remains at 54% and acreage at 15,677.
The Ninetyeight Fire (#218) exhibited minimal fire activity yesterday. Crews finished the sprinkler system along the south and southwest perimeter and continued mopping up through the heaviest area of downed debris and timber. Completion remains at 54% and acreage at 15,691.
The Tatanka Hotshot crew arrived yesterday and will join forces with the USFS R10 crew. They will continue mop-up and hazard tree removal along the south and southwest perimeter of the Ninetyeight Fire (#218). The sprinkler system along the south and southwest perimeter of the fire was extended to cover the areas that were worked yesterday. Completion has been increased to 54% despite fire weather in the area slowly drying out since receiving the last trace of rain.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 