Alaska Still Fighting Wildfires

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Warmer, drier conditions in Alaska have caused several fires to become active again. Currently there are 102 fires active statewide, 11 of them are staffed. Many of those fires have been caused by lightning strikes. According to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC), so far this year, 438 fires have burned 856,619 acres statewide.

The Louie Creek Fire was sparked by lightning on Wednesday and has burned 800 acres. There are 50 personnel on scene with additional crews ordered. Flame lengths of 10 to 20 feet have been observed and there is spotting up to 500 feet, according to the AICC situation report. The Goldburg Creek Fire was also started Wednesday by lightning. There are 30 personnel on the 1,000 acre fire that is 60% contained.

The human caused Venetie Lake Fire also began on Wednesday. Yesterday there were 20 personnel on the 5.9 acre fire. Today they will mop up, cold trail and demobilize.

The lightning-caused Willow Creek Fire began on June 10 and has burned 2,030 acres. It is located 10 miles south of Fairbanks on the south side of the Tanana River on co-managed Bureau of Land Management and US Army lands. According to the AICC, due to the historic military use of the land and the concern of unexploded ordnance, all actions taken on the fire must be done aerially. Measures are being taken to ensure that the fire stays south of the Tanana River. The smoke column has been very visible from the Fairbanks area for several days.

Burning since the 4th, The Toklat 2 Fire is at 188,807 acres and is staffed by 10 personnel but the fire spread was limited to smoldering an creeping at the south end of the fire, according to the AICC.


Author:Barbara Brooks - Fire Department Network News