Single Publication

McDonald Fire managers extend response to the NW to include the Clear Fire

Size:  47,304 acres
Personnel:  83
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – McDonald Fire managers have extended fire response to include the 3,565-acre Clear Fire (#204), about 15 miles to the northwest of the McDonald Fire. The Clear Fire is burning in proximity to military impact areas and will continue to be monitored. 

Firefighters on the McDonald Fire are monitoring burnout operations on the east side of the 5 Mile Creek cabins, and crews continue creating a contingency fireline on the west side of the cabins. 

To protect military infrastructure, firefighters removed hazardous fuels and installed sprinklers, pumps, and hose. These firefighters will receive equipment Sunday to set up sprinkler systems. 

Three lookouts have been established to provide timely fire behavior updates to firefighters on the ground. Firefighters will continue to patrol the Richardson Highway corridor and adjacent subdivisions. 

Today’s light southeast winds could move smoke into the Fairbanks area and may impact air quality. Please use caution and turn on headlights while driving as smoke may impact visibility. Fire danger in the area remains critically high.

Weather: Near Red Flag conditions are forecasted this afternoon and possibly again Monday afternoon as sunny, dry, and very warm conditions are expected to continue into next week. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 81 degrees, with a low humidity of 24%. 

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. today. Low-level smoke will affect communities near the McDonald Fire. During the evening hours, smoke will settle in the flats, impacting a larger number of communities in the area. The ADEC expects increased smoke production from wildfires in Canada, northeast Alaska and McGrath 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.