Wildfires in the Yukon Flats exhibited extreme fire behavior Thursday for the second day in a row – prompting smokejumpers to conduct burn operations to protect two Native allotments and a cabin.
Yukon Flats
Wildfires show extreme behavior in northeastern Alaska due to dry, warm conditions
While rains have swept through a majority of Alaska, they have largely avoided northeastern Alaska which remains the warmest, driest part of the state. The area hasn’t seen a new fire since July 29, but existing wildfires in the Yukon Flats remain very active while other fires in the rest of the state are largely dormant.
Upper Yukon Flats Busy Fire Season Moderates – FINAL FIRE UPDATE August 13, 2019
In mid-July storms passed through the Yukon Flats with thousands of lightning strikes. Drought conditions left the trees and duff layer very dry allowing fires to grow and difficult to contain. The rest of Alaska was also experiencing an extreme… Read More ›
Smoke Outlook 7/27-7/28: Upper Yukon still impacted
While the rest of the state has experienced relief from smoke impacts, along with cooler temperatures and higher humidity, Fort Yukon and the surrounding area remains warm and dry with more lightning expected. Fire potential likewise remains high there and… Read More ›
Upper Yukon Zone fuel indices remain at near record levels
The Upper Yukon Flats remains the hottest and driest area of the state. Temperatures in the Upper Yukon zone will remain consistent in the 65 degree to 85 degree range with relative humidities between 35 percent and 45 percent. About… Read More ›
Firefighters, aircraft continue work on Yukon Flats area fires
Work continues on numerous fires burning in the Yukon Flats. Of the 138 active fires in BLM Alaska Fire Service area that covers the northern half of the state, 34 are within the more than 51-million acre Upper Yukon Fire… Read More ›
Hot weather increases fire activity on Caribou Creek Fire; three more crews to join fight
Firefighters continued making slow but deliberate progress on the Caribou Creek Fire burning about 25 miles east of Fairbanks and north of the community of Two Rivers on Friday. The fire has grown to an estimated 300 acres since it… 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 ›
Work completed on last staffed fire in Alaska
With the perimeter 100 percent contained, the remaining 39 firefighters left on the last staffed fire in Alaska will demobilize from the Tiechovun Fire today. The Alaska Division of Forestry’s Type 2 Initial Attack White Mountain Crew and Type 2… Read More ›
Lightning strikes spark dozens of new wildfires across Alaska
After a slow start due to a cool and extended spring, Alaska’s wildfire season has begun in earnest as a result of warmer temperatures that has produced thousands of lightning strikes across the state the past two days. A total… Read More ›