Twelve smokejumpers and a helitack crew identified and worked to suppress any potential threats Tuesday to the containment line around the Otter Fire (#344). The fire is fully contained. Firefighters plan to remain in place through this week’s Red Flag conditions so they can take action if the fire begins to flare up.
The Otter Fire (#344) about 50 miles northeast of Venetie is fully contained but not controlled. A dozen smokejumpers also continue to fight the Fortymile Fire (#355) near Fortymile Creek about 25 miles northwest of Beaver.
Firefighters put in hard work preparing lines and extinguishing hotspots around the Ptarmigan Complex over the past few days, taking advantage of the cooler, wetter weather. A warming, drying trend is forecast for the next five days. This brings the potential for thunderstorms with lightning and drier fuels that are more receptive to fire.
The Otter Fire (#344) was 90% contained Sunday night with no growth in acreage reported following two days of solid work in rugged terrain by 20 smokejumpers, a helitack crew, and the air crews of multiple firefighting aircraft.
Twenty smokejumpers supported by eight water scooper planes are working Sunday night to contain two new fires – one in the Tanana Zone and one in the Upper Yukon Zone.
Twenty smokejumpers and the Vale Helitack crew succeeded in cutting a saw line around the Otter Fire (#344) late Friday night. They had hoses around 50% of the fire perimeter, including the head, by Saturday afternoon.
Twenty smokejumpers and four firefighters from a helitack crew are working to contain the Otter Fire (#344) northeast of Venetie with support from multiple aircraft.
Smokejumpers and aircraft are responding to a new fire in the Upper Yukon Zone.
The Otter Fire (#344) is burning along Otter Creek about 50 miles northeast of Venetie and 40 miles south of Arctic Village in a full protection area. The fire is lightning caused and is estimated to be about 50 acres.
The Crooked Fire was contained by firefighters Saturday night. The fire was burning near mile 117.5 Steese Highway.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 