Due to extreme wildfire danger and current wildfire activity in Southcentral Alaska, as well as limited resources available to respond to new starts, the Alaska Division of Forestry is instituting an emergency burn closure on state, private, borough and municipal lands within the Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna boroughs effective at 8:00 a.m. today, August 21, […]
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Tag Archives: Swan Lake Fire
Division of Forestry issues emergency burn closure for Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su Valley
August 21, 2019 
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McKinley Fire burns at least 50 structures; Parks Highway remains closed
August 18, 2019 Comments Off on McKinley Fire burns at least 50 structures; Parks Highway remains closed
A dramatic increase in fire intensity on the McKinley Fire near Mile 88 of the Parks Highway on Sunday afternoon resulted in the loss of at least 50 structures as firefighters and other emergency responders worked furiously to evacuate and rescue residents threatened by the fire. A smoke plume from the McKinley Fire burning along […]
Continue reading Swan Lake Fire continues to put up smoke along Sterling Highway; fire weather watch issued through Saturday
August 16, 2019 Comments Off on Swan Lake Fire continues to put up smoke along Sterling Highway; fire weather watch issued through Saturday
A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the Swan Lake Fire area from 4 p.m. today through Saturday evening for hot, dry, and windy conditions. A Fire Weather Watch is an alert to firefighters and land managers to the high potential for conditions to develop that could lead to an increase in fire danger […]
Continue readingCloud cover moderates fire activity on Swan Lake Fire
August 14, 2019 Comments Off on Cloud cover moderates fire activity on Swan Lake Fire
Cloud cover throughout the operational period yesterday once again moderated fire behavior on the 102,548-acre Swan Lake Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge despite strong winds from the south. Interior islands of green fuels continued to burn out but there was little new perimeter growth. Water drops from helicopters were used to cool an […]
Continue reading Reseeding begins on Swan Lake Fire dozer lines
August 13, 2019 Comments Off on Reseeding begins on Swan Lake Fire dozer lines
The 11 miles of dozer line constructed to control the spread of the Swan Lake Fire north of the Sterling Highway have been repaired and reseeding operations began Monday, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry. Fire personnel are utilizing a hydro-seeder as well as hand-seeding on steeper slopes to prevent erosion and to mitigate […]
Continue reading Swan Lake Fire responds to warm, dry weather with increased smoke
August 10, 2019 Comments Off on Swan Lake Fire responds to warm, dry weather with increased smoke
The Swan Lake Fire (#181) burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the northern Kenai Peninsula has responded to the warm, dry weather of this past week with increased activity and smoke in the Mystery and Thurman Creek drainages on the northeast corner of the fire. Containment lines continue to hold but more smoke […]
Continue reading Swan Lake Fire perks up with hotter, drier weather but poses no threat
August 7, 2019 Comments Off on Swan Lake Fire perks up with hotter, drier weather but poses no threat
As expected, fire activity on the Swan Lake Fire (#181) burning on the northern Kenai Peninsula has increased in recent days as a result of unseasonably hot, dry weather. That trend will likely continue until a change in the weather. While most firefighting personnel have been released from the fire, the fire continues to put […]
Continue reading Kenai National Wildlife Refuge – Re-opens some recreational areas.
August 1, 2019 Comments Off on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge – Re-opens some recreational areas.
Due to minimal fire activity on the Swan Lake Fire, the majority of firefighters that were camped at these facilities are no longer utilizing them. For that reason, the refuge has re-opened most of the recreation areas affected by the Swan Lake Fire effective today. Of primary note are Watson, Peterson, and Kelly campgrounds and […]
Continue reading Smoke Outlook 8/1-2: Generally improving conditions statewide, but Yukon Valley remains smoky
August 1, 2019 Comments Off on Smoke Outlook 8/1-2: Generally improving conditions statewide, but Yukon Valley remains smoky
An increase in precipitation across west central Alaska and the Tanana Valley will reduce smoke impacts in many areas; however, the Upper Yukon Valley continues to be relatively dry, and westerly winds will bring in smoke from other areas. Smoke from Canadian fires continues to impact parts of Southeast Alaska. North (Fairbanks, Denali National Park, […]
Continue reading Smoke Outlook 7/31-8/01: Winds will improve air quality throughout most of Alaska
July 31, 2019 Comments Off on Smoke Outlook 7/31-8/01: Winds will improve air quality throughout most of Alaska
Though drought persists in the central Interior and warmer, drier weather may cause an increase in fire activity today, winds and recent precipitation trends have resulted in generally better air quality for the Fairbanks, Anchorage and Southeast Alaska regions. North (Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Upper Yukon) Fire Drought conditions persist across the central interior, despite […]
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