Fire behavior moderated on the Marten Creek Fire (#386) and the Discovery Creek Fire (#388) in the Yukon Flats Wednesday as firefighters remain busy preparing for today’s warmer, drier weather. Firefighters reported both fires received a light dusting of rain Wednesday that likely didn’t elevate the dry conditions in the deeper ground layers. With the weather forecast returning to breezy, drier conditions today, firefighters anticipate more activity as the fires burn through black spruce trees in the area.
Venetie
BLM Alaska Fire Service responding to 800-acre Marten Creek Fire east of Venetie
Driven by wind and exceptionally dry fuels, the fire grew exponentially on Sunday despite an aggressive aerial response. with growth primarily on the north edge of the fire into what fire managers described as a “sea of black spruce” that has not burned in 30 years.
Midnight Sun Hotshots mobilizing for fire north of Fort Yukon
The BLM Alaska Fire Service Midnight Sun Hotshots are mobilizing to protect a Native allotment from the Sheenjek Fire (#296) burning about 46 miles north of Fort Yukon. While other fires throughout Alaska remain dormant, the Sheenjek Fire recently came to life and grew substantially over the past few days, causing smoke to drift into Venetie about 37 miles to the west.
BLM AFS awards three contracts for Alaska village-based Type 2 wildland firefighting crews
The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) awarded three contracts for Type 2 wildland firefighting hand crews based in rural northeastern and Interior Alaska villages for the 2020 fire season. The contractors selected will base crews in… Read More ›
BLM AFS 2019 Emergency Firefighter review
The BLM Alaska Fire Service uses Type 2 Emergency Firefighters (EFF)/Administratively Determined (AD) fire crews and single resource personnel to supplement its regular workforce in the event of wildfire emergencies. The program, which is separate from the State of Alaska’s… Read More ›
Smokejumpers respond to contain spot fire from Chandalar River Fire near Venetie
Sept. 6, 2019 Four smokejumpers quickly responded Friday afternoon to contain a small fire that spotted across a control line protecting a Native allotment from the long-burning Chandalar River Fire west of Venetie. Smokejumpers anticipate containing the 30-by-30 foot fire… Read More ›
Upper Yukon: Weather may allow burnout operations
Weather conditions today or tomorrow could finally allow firefighters to conduct planned burnout operations on three fires in the Upper Yukon Zone’s Cornucopia Complex: the Hadweenzic Fire (#337), the Tony Slough Fire (#493) and the Chandalar River Fire (#349). Firefighters… Read More ›
Villages added to federal EFF medical exam schedule
The villages of Fort Yukon, Venetie, Arctic Village, Selawik, Minto and Tanana were added to the schedule of mobile medical exams for federal emergency firefighters (EFF) in rural Alaska. The additions to the schedule are (click on links for request… Read More ›
Mop up nearly complete on North Robertson Fire along Alaska Highway near Tok
Firefighters on Saturday reached 95 percent containment of the North Robertson Fire burning along the Alaska Highway about 30 miles northwest of Tok, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry. Fire managers downsized the number of personnel assigned to the… Read More ›
Firefighters search for hot spots, begin mopping up on North Robertson Fire near Tok
Firefighters continue to build and improve containment lines around the 832-acre North Robertson Fire burning along the Alaska Highway about 30 miles northwest of Tok. More than 200 firefighters are working on the fire, which started on June 1 about… Read More ›
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 