Salcha River Fire – Alaska Wildland Fire Information

Salcha River 2 Fire grows to estimated 3,000 acres; smoke impacting Fairbanks

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on August 5, 2021

The 3,000-acre Salcha River 2 Fire about 65 miles east of Fairbanks and 15 miles southeast of the Munson Creek Fire is also putting up significant smoke due to increased activity caused by the record-setting heat wave that has broiled the Central and Eastern Interior in recent days. Northeast winds have been pushing smoke from the two fires into Fairbanks and the surrounding areas the past two days.

A member of the BLM Alaska Fire Service Northstar Fire Crew unties a sling load of supplies that was dropped by helicopter for firefighters working on the Rosie Creek Fire (#174) on Saturday, June 12, 2021.

Firefighters gain ground containing Rosie Creek and Salcha River wildfires near Fairbanks

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on June 13, 2021

Firefighters continue working to fully contain two small wildfires burning on opposite sides of the Tanana Valley near Fairbanks. The 1-acre Rosie Creek Fire (#174), which was reported early Saturday afternoon in the Rosie Creek area about 14 miles southwest… Read More ›

An aerial photo of the Salcha River Fire (#169) taken at around 3 p.m. on Thursday. The SaIcha River is visible in the background to the north. Matt Nunnelly/Division of Forestry

Firefighters increase containment on Salcha River Fire to 30 percent as warmer weather looms

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on June 12, 2021

Nearly 50 firefighters continued hammering away at the Salcha River Fire (#169) on Friday to strengthen control lines and increase containment on the 7-acre fire burning 25 air miles up the Salcha River. The fire is located on a hillside… Read More ›

An aerial photo of the Salcha River Fire (#169) taken at around 3 p.m. on Thursday. If you look closely you can see the hose lay around the fire in the bottom right corner. Matt Nunnelly/Division of Forestry

Salcha River Fire 20% contained; crews seeking out hot spots inside perimeter

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on June 10, 2021

Firefighters have achieved 20 percent containment on the 7-acre Salcha River Fire (#169) and the fire should be fully corralled by Sunday if all goes according to plan, fire managers with the Alaska Division of Forestry reported Thursday night. A… Read More ›

The SalchaRiverFire (#169) remains at an estimated 7 acres and more than 50 firefighters are working to secure containment lines around the fire to ensure it doesn’t threaten multiple cabins along the river a short distance away. The fire is approximately 25 air miles up the Salcha River from the Richardson Highway and is located about a quarter mile south of the river. The fire was originally reported to be about 1 mile north of the river but the location was changed due to more accurate mapping coordinates. The fire is about 1 ½ air miles northeast of the point where Flat Creek flows into the Salcha River. There are multiple cabins on both the south and north sides of the river in that area but they are not considered threatened at this point. Two Type 2 initial attack crews – White Mountain and Tanana Chiefs - were both flown into the fire by helicopter last evening to join eight smokejumpers from the BLM Alaska Fire Service and four Helitack firefighters from Fairbanks Area forestry that were initially deployed on the fire. The fire is believed to be a lightning-caused holdover from lightning in the area in previous days. It was reported just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday by military range control personnel who could see smoke in the area. The initial report sized it up as 3 acres burning in black spruce and mixed hardwoods. The Division of Forestry launched an aggressive aerial assault on the fire that included water drops from two water-scooping aircraft and a helicopter, as well as two retardant drops from an air tanker. Retardant was dropped between the cabins on the south side of the river and the fire to slow any spread toward the cabins and on the south flank of the fire to slow its spread in that direction. Fire managers reported “minimal spread” once aircraft began dropping water and retardant on and around the fire. Fire managers expect it will take crews about four days to fully contain the fire. Supplies are being shuttled into crews by helicopter from a staging area set up in Salcha.

More than 50 firefighters working to contain 7-acre Salcha River Fire

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on June 10, 2021

The Salcha River Fire (#169) remains at an estimated 7 acres and more than 50 firefighters are working to secure containment lines around the fire to ensure it doesn’t spread toward multiple cabins along the river a short distance away…. Read More ›

An aerial photo of the Salcha River Fire (#169), located approximately 25 air miles up the Salcha River on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

State forestry attacking small wildfire 25 miles up the Salcha River

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on June 9, 2021

UPDATE 9:30 p.m. Here’s an aerial picture of the Salcha River Fire (#169) that was reported just before 2:30 p.m. today. The latest estimate remains at 7 acres and fire spread was greatly diminished following an aggressive aerial assault with… Read More ›