Alaskan Wildfires Continue to Burn

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Moist weather yesterday in the interior of Alaska calmed some fires. The statewide preparedness level remains at Level 2, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC). Currently there are 92 active wildfires that have burned a total of 911,292 acres.

Two new fires were reported yesterday, the largest being the 17 acre Kanuti River Fire. According to the AICC, one load of smokejumpers along with air attack and a CL-215 water tanker initially attacked the fire. The Allakaket Crew was dispatched to the fire for additional support. There are six other staffed fires, they are:

• Pat Creek Fire (12 miles NE of Stevens Village) Personnel: 235, Acres: 10,791 acres.Yesterday's fire behavior was moderate due to the light rain received in the area. Additional crews and overhead personnel have been ordered to meet the incident objectives. The fire is 10% contained.
• Louie Creek Fire(9 miles southwest of Huslia) Personnel: 157, Acres: 8,600. Even with the hot and dry weather fire personnel have successfully prepped the northeast perimeter to conduct a burnout operation that will limit spread of the fire towards Huslia. Crews will continue the allotment and structure assessment and prepping continues along the Koyukuk River. The fire is 5% contained.
• Noatak River (15 miles north of Kotzebue) Personnel: 12, Acres: 103. Firefighters continue suppression of the fire despite the erratic wind shift late yesterday afternoon. The fire is 60% contained.
• Willow Creek Fire (10 miles SW of Fairbanks)Personnel: 7, Acres: 2,154. The fire area received rain and air surveillance reported minimal smoke and activity.
• Kaldolyeit Lake Fire (42 south of Bettles) Personnel: 8, Acres: 10.Smokejumpers continued to mop up along the fire perimeter.
• Montana Creek Fire (20 miles north of Deering) Personnel: 8, Acres: 3,500.The fire is 100% contained and demobilization will begin today for fire personnel.

Additional information about each fire can be found at: http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/sitreport/current.pdf

Louie Creek Fire Photo: AJ Chapman, BLM Alaska Fire Service June 29, 2010


Author:Barbara Brooks - Fire Department Network News