Widespread lightning has started at least 30 new fires since Thursday in the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Southwest Area around McGrath. A Red Flag Warning remained in effect for most of Southwest Area for more lightning on Friday and fire… Read More ›
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Lightning-caused wildfires keeping firefighters busy in Southwest Alaska
Lightning strikes ignited five new wildfires in the area around Bethel, McGrath and Dillingham on Wednesday, bringing the total number of current active fires in the Southwest Area to 20, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry’s McGrath office. Firefighters… Read More ›
More lightning produces more wildfires in Southwest Alaska
Wildland firefighters are scrambling to respond to multiple lightning-caused fires in Southwest Alaska as a result of thunderstorms the past four days. As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, 13 new wildfires were reported in the area around McGrath and Dillingham –… Read More ›
State forestry mopping up two lightning-caused wildfires in southwest, monitoring four others
Wildland firefighters continue work to mop up two lightning-caused fires in southwest Alaska while the State Division of Forestry is monitoring four other fires in the area started by lightning in the past two days. An eight-person initial attack squad… Read More ›
With help from rain, firefighters wrapping up work on fires in southwest, western Alaska
Despite recent widespread rain that has quelled wildfire activity across much of the state, the Alaska Division of Forestry and BLM Alaska Fire Service continue to staff six fires in southwest and western Alaska. Alaska Division of Forestry As of… Read More ›
Rain continues to subdue wildfires in southwest, western Alaska
All the wildfires burning in the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Southwest Area between McGrath and Dillingham have received varying amounts of precipitation over the past three days, moderating fire behavior and reducing the threat to villages and values at risk…. Read More ›
Rain takes edge off fire activity in southwest and western Alaska
Widespread rain has diminished wildfire activity in southwest and western Alaska the past two days, though several fires continue to burn and grow in size. Just about all the fires burning in the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Southwest Area and… Read More ›
Last crews pulled off Medfra Fire in southwest Alaska
4 p.m. June 13, 2016 – The last two crews working on a wildfire in a remote part of southwest Alaska were scheduled to be demobilized today. The 9,607-acre Medfra Fire, which started on May 29 as the result of… Read More ›
Rain slows spread of 10,500-acre Medfra Fire in Southwest Alaska
A wildfire burning in remote Southwest Alaska is now estimated at almost 10,500 acres but fire behavior has moderated considerably as a result of rain, cooler temperatures and rising relative humidity. The latest acreage estimate for the Medfra Fire as… Read More ›
Firefighters contending with rapidly growing wildfire in Southwest Alaska
A wind-driven wildfire in a remote part of Southwest Alaska had grown to as much as 500 acres as of 6 p.m. and the Alaska Division of Forestry had called in smokejumpers and several crews in an effort to contain… Read More ›