Single Publication

Size: 72,171 acres                                                                                                  Location: 6 miles west of Anderson, Alaska
Completion: 61%                                                                                                 Personnel: 517
Start Date: June 21, 2022                                                                                 Cause: Natural, Lightning
Fuels: A mix of tundra, brush, hardwood, and black spruce        

Summary: Hot, windy, and drier conditions had minimal effect on fire activity and suppression efforts. Hot spots and smokes in the interior and along the edge of the fire will continue to show up in areas not seen previously as this weather trend continues over the next few days. Firefighters are making steady progress on the fire perimeter expanding and connecting the completed line along the east to the completed line on the north fire edge. A fire suppression repair plan was developed through collaboration between the Incident Management Team, the Alaska Department of Forestry, and local resource advisors.

Weather: Today should see increasing clouds with a high of 65F. There is a chance of a light rain. Minimum humidity is 38%. Winds should be from the south at 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph in the early morning, becoming light and variable under 5 mph by the afternoon. A wind advisory is in effect for tomorrow for the gaps in the Alaska range, south of the fire, which could spill into the southern end of the fire near drainages and gaps.

Operations: Infrared detection was done on the fire last night. Fire managers reviewed the imagery and confirmed suppression efforts are continuing to effectively prevent perimeter fire growth, even with the windy conditions and lower humidities the last 24 hours. Firefighters are reinforcing point protection around homes along the north and east fire perimeter as they patrol and mop up any hotspots that surface. Backhaul of equipment is complete in this area and fire suppression repair is progressing in areas where appropriate.

Crews will begin work on constructing three miles of direct fireline along the central area of the southern fire edge and continue to protect structures that are currently threatened. Firefighters will also evaluate and develop protection plans around additional values further to the south of the fires edge.

Firefighters were inserted by helicopter near the Teklanika River where they constructed a fuel break to prevent fire from getting into a large island of available fuel. This specific spot had the potential for significant growth once fuels dry out and become available. The rest of the western edge of the fire will be monitored by air for any new activity.

Sheltering & Evacuations: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330, visit denaliborough.org or follow www.facebook.com/denali.borough  
 FireLoss & Suppression Repair: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330
Other Fire Information: Alaska Fire Information, (907) 356-5511; akfireinfo.com, and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry and www.facebook.com/BLMAFS