Ptarmigan Complex

Green and brown vegetation with one small smoke plume rising from the lower middle portion of the image. Low, green-blue mountains are in the background, topped by a blue, cloudy sky.

Firefighters achieve 100% containment on the Tlozhavun Fire; operations remain steady on other fires in northeastern Alaska

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Crews achieved 100% containment around the perimeter of the Tlozhavun Fire Monday, meaning firefighters have established a control line around the fire that should keep it from spreading. Firefighters working other fires in the BLM Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) Upper Yukon Zone, which covers northeastern Alaska, continue to make steady progress towards the objectives identified for each fire. Fire managers will continue to watch for and be ready to respond to new starts as the region continues to experience dry conditions.

Graphic with black and red background, BLM logos and the words BLM Alaska Fire Service and Wildfire Update.

Crews continue mop up work on Tlozhavun and Turtle Fires; firefighters respond to and monitor additional fires in northeastern Alaska

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Crew continue extinguishing hotspots along the edge of existing fires in the BLM Alaska Fire Service (AFS) Upper Yukon Zone that covers the northeastern Alaska as fire managers keep a watchful eye toward new starts in the region. Two fires were discovered Sunday via remote sensing on the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. The Ripple Fire (#468) is approximately 2 acres in size, with creeping, backing, and isolated torching behavior observed. The Sheenjek Fire (#467) is approximately 7 acres in size with creeping, backing, and isolated torching behavior in white and black spruce observed. Both fires will be monitored by occasional BLM AFS flights over the area.

Cloudy, cooler weather with the potential for showers across the Upper Yukon Zone early in the week will help crews make progress towards their objectives.

The inside of an aircraft cockpit with various gauges and reading instruments as it flies above vast green vegetation. A sliver of gray river can be seen in the photo background and the sky is overcast.

Work continues on the Turtle Fire as backhaul operations begin on the Ptarmigan Complex

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The weather area forecast for the Ptarmigan Complex continues to call for scattered moisture, cooler temperatures, and potential thunderstorms over the next few days. Fire activity across the complex yesterday was minimal, with creeping and smoldering observed.  As more of the fires in the complex transition to monitor status and no heat is detected, backhaul operations are beginning with pumps and hose being removed from fires where the threat is no longer perceived.

An aerial view of a landscape effected by fire. A braided river, Birch Creek, flows through the center of the image, to the right of the burnt area. A small plume of smoke rises from an area on the fire side of the creek, close to the water. On the far side of Birch Creek, the timber is unburnt and green. Clouds cover the sky.

Crews transition on Ptarmigan Complex, thunderstorms bring wind and light precipitation

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The weather area forecast for the Ptarmigan Complex continues to call for scattered moisture, cooler temperatures, and potential thunderstorms over the next few days. Fire activity across the complex yesterday was minimal with the increased activity occurring on the Buckley Bar Fire and the southern end of the Turtle Fire after a series of thunderstorms brought strong winds to the complex in the early evening. 

A close up shot of a drone on it's landing pad. The pad sits on wood litter, and there are trees in the background. The sky has scattered clouds and is mostly clear.

New thermal imaging leads to an increase in acreage across the Ptarmigan Complex 

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As a result of new thermal imaging and improved mapping, the Ptarmigan Complex total fire acreage increased to 49,508 acres. The acreage for the largest fire, the Turtle (#242) is 34,903. The Ikheenjik Fire (#243) is being included as part of the Turtle Fire for management and acreage. There was minimal fire activity present yesterday across the complex, with the observed fire behavior consisting of flanking, creeping, and smoldering. The warming and drying trend for the weekend may still lead to an increase in fire activity and smoke.