Single Publication

Hot and dry temperatures persist on the McDonald Fire

Size:  50,262 acres
Personnel:  83
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Sunday was another hot and dry day on the McDonald Fire with temperatures reaching a high of 82 degrees, with a low humidity of 24%. Firefighters continue to monitor burnout operations and will clean up pockets of unburned fuels on the west side of the 5 Mile Creek cabins. Crews will continue creating a contingency fireline on the east side of 5 Mile Creek. Two Alaska Department of Forestry & Fire Protection engines and the White Mountain Module will patrol the Richardson Highway corridor and adjacent subdivisions. Posted lookouts continue to provide timely fire behavior updates to firefighters on the ground. 

Today the incoming Type 3 Incident Management Team will spend today’s shift preparing to transfer command at 7 a.m., Tuesday, June 25. 

The 8,657-acre Clear Fire (#204), about 15 miles to the northwest, is now included in the area under oversight by McDonald Fire managers. The Clear Fire is burning in proximity to military impact areas and will continue to be monitored. 

Smoke moving into the Fairbanks area will impact air quality estimated through Wednesday. Please use caution and turn on headlights while driving as smoke may impact visibility. Fire danger in the area remains critically high.

Weather: Hot and dry conditions will continue Monday and Tuesday with high temperatures around 80 degrees and minimum humidity 29-34%. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms over the fire. Rain showers are likely this afternoon, though chances for wetting rains remain low. Hot and dry conditions continue through the rest of the week as temperatures soar into the mid-80s by Wednesday with minimum humidity as low as 25%.  

Burn Permits:  The DOF has issued Burn Permit Suspensions for Fairbanks, Salcha, Delta, Tok, and Railbelt areas. The fire danger in these areas remains HIGH. Please check https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn/fireareas or call the burn permit hotline for the Fairbanks Area Forestry at (907) 451-2631 for the most current updates.

Air Quality:  An Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) air quality advisory is in effect for the Central and Eastern Alaska due to wildfire smoke through 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 25th. Low-level smoke during the evening/early morning hours will affect communities near the McDonald Fire. The ADEC expects increased smoke production from wildfires in Canada and Alaska during the advisory period. Find information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at the Smoke Management page on https://akfireinfo.com/smoke-management/.

Evacuation Notices:  The Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) issued a Level 2: SET evacuation notice for the approximately 20 cabins that are near the fire’s southern edge. The FNSB also has areas along the lower Salcha River, Harding Lake, Hollies Acres, Canaday, Salcha and Johnson Road neighborhoods in a READY status. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services website.

Temporary Flight Restriction:  Location is 30 nautical miles southeast of Fairbanks to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft. The TFR is posted at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_0375.html.

-BLM-

Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Fire Service, P.O. Box 35005 1541 Gaffney Road, Fort Wainwright, Ak 99703

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The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, provides wildland fire suppression services for over 240 million acres of Department of the Interior and Native Corporation Lands in Alaska. In addition, AFS has other statewide responsibilities that include: interpretation of fire management policy; oversight of the BLM Alaska Aviation program; fuels management projects; and operating and maintaining advanced communication and computer systems such as the Alaska Lightning Detection System. AFS also maintains a National Incident Support Cache with a $18.1 million inventory. The Alaska Fire Service provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska.