McDonald Fire sees another day of active fire behavior

Size:  62,507 acres
Personnel:  72
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Fire behavior was active again Tuesday, ranging from group torching to backing and flanking around the entire perimeter. Group torching is defined as the burning of a small group of trees from the bottom up. 

Crews continue to focus their efforts on structure protection on cabins along 5 Mile Creek and military infrastructure near Blair Lakes and Clear Creek. Crews continue securing the fire`s edge on the south side of the fire to reduce threat to structures in the area. Two Alaska Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) engines and the 11-person White Mountain Module will continue to patrol the Richardson Highway and adjacent subdivisions. Two lookouts are providing timely fire behavior updates to firefighters on the ground. 

The fire danger in the area remains critically high. 

The 23,410-acre Clear Fire (#204) 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 Thursday. Please use caution and turn on headlights while driving as smoke may impact visibility.

Weather: Isolated thunderstorms will be possible through 9 p.m. Wednesday with a low chance of wetting rains. Thursday is expected to be hotter and drier with minimum humidities in the 20’s and a much higher chance for isolated thunderstorms. Thunderstorms may be slightly stronger and may produce more lightning with chances for hail, strong winds, and heavy downpours.

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., Thursday, June 27. 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 will be updated with new hours and posted later today.

-BLM-

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

Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM Alaska Fire Service in Alaska? 

Visit our Flickr channel! 
Learn more at www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

Transfer of command on McDonald Fire

Size:  54,158 acres
Personnel:  83
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – After two weeks managing efforts on the McDonald Fire, command of the fire to a new Type 3 incident management organization occurred at 7 a.m., Tuesday. The two groups spent Monday together to ensure continuity of operations on the fire. The focus is still on protecting the cabins along the 5 Mile Creek and military infrastructure near Blair Lakes and Clear Creek.

Weather continues to be hot and dry day on the McDonald Fire with temperatures reaching into the 80s. Firefighters will scout areas to the east of the fire and assess for potential opportunities to construct additional fireline to protect cabins in the 5 Mile Creek area. Crews will continue to monitor burnout operations and will clean up pockets of unburned fuels on the west side of these cabins. Two Alaska Department of Forestry & Fire Protection engines and the 11-person White Mountain Module will continue to patrol the Richardson Highway and adjacent subdivisions. Two lookouts will provide timely fire behavior updates to firefighters on the ground. 

The 14,771-acre Clear Fire (#204) is burning in proximity to military impact areas and will continue to be monitored. 

The fire danger in the area remains critically high. Fire behavior includes some crowning, where flames move from treetop to treetop.

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.

Weather: Another hot and dry day is expected Tuesday with high temperatures in the low 80s. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms near the fire this afternoon and evening before diminishing to rain showers overnight. These thunderstorms may come with dry lightning and gusty, erratic winds to 30 mph. 

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 25. 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 will be updated with new hours and posted later today.

-BLM-

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

Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM Alaska Fire Service in Alaska? 

Visit our Flickr channel! 
Learn more at www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

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

Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM Alaska Fire Service in Alaska? 

Visit our Flickr channel! 
Learn more at www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

Date(s): Jun 29, 2024 - Jul 30, 2024

Forest Order: Forest Order No. 05-15-52-24-13 Basin Fire Closure

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Sierra National Forest.  This Order is effective from June 30, 2024, through July 30, 2024.

To view Forest Order 05-15-52-24-13 Order / Exhibit B: Click Here

To view Forest Order 05-15-52-24-13 Exhibit A: Click Here

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

Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM Alaska Fire Service in Alaska? 

Visit our Flickr channel! 
Learn more at www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

Burn operations complete on the McDonald Fire

Size:  44,892 acres
Personnel:  83
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Firefighter resources on the McDonald Fire have completed burn operations on the south side of the fire, west of the 5 Mile Creek cabins. Burn operations remove fuels between values at risk and the active fire. Hotshot crews will create a contingency fireline on the east side of the 5 Mile Creek cabins. The cabins have been prepped by firefighters with sprinkler systems to wet down the area and nearby vegetation has been removed. Smokejumpers are preparing military infrastructure in the Clear Creek area by removing hazardous fuels and installing sprinklers, pumps and hose, in the event the fire reaches these sites. Firefighters continue to patrol the Richardson Highway corridor and adjacent subdivisions. Three lookouts have been established to provide information to firefighters on the ground. 

Lightning ignited 2 new fires on military lands, Friday, about 15 miles to the northwest of the McDonald Fire. Fire 204 was 300-acres with an active perimeter and continuous fuel ahead of the fire with high potential to spread. Fire 205 was one acre with 30% active perimeter.  Firefighters will assess military infrastructure to the north for structure protection operations. These fires are burning in proximity to military impact areas. Due to the hazard of unexploded ordnance these fires will remain unstaffed.

Please use caution and turn on headlights while driving along the Richardson Highway as smoke may impact visibility. The fire danger in the area remains critically high.

Weather: Near Red Flag conditions are forecasted Saturday afternoon and possibly again on Sunday afternoon. Sunny, dry and very warm conditions are expected over the fire Saturday into Monday. Conditions will continue to warm and dry into next week.  

Burn Permits:  The DOF has issued Burn Permit Suspensions for Fairbanks, Salcha, 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. Sunday. 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

Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM Alaska Fire Service in Alaska? 

Visit our Flickr channel! 
Learn more at www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

Basin Fire Update

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Fire Information: 559-468-6809, 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. 

Email: 2024.basin@firenet.gov 

Facebook: @SierraNF

People and Equipment: 430 personnel, 6 crews, 34 engines & 10 helicopters. 

Current Situation: Light winds on Friday helped firefighters slow the growth of the Basin Fire northeast of Fresno, now at 7462 acres and 0% containment. The fire is burning primarily in dry, dense grass within the Rough Fire scar from 2015. 

            These are the same acreage and personnel numbers that were reported yesterday.  They will be updated as new numbers come in.  An IR flight to measure the fire acres is scheduled for this afternoon and personnel and equipment numbers will change as the check-in unit catches up to real time later today.  The new numbers will be posted in Inciweb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/casnf-basin-fire and be reflected in tomorrow’s update.

Fire crews are working diligently to hold the fire north of the South Fork of the Kings River; this is the current southern fire perimeter. The northern fire perimeter is holding along Rodger’s Ridge and crews are building and improving fire-line to hold the fire along this ridge. Structure protection crews have been deployed to protect energy infrastructure at Balch Camp, at the confluence of Dinky Creek and the North Fork of the Kings River. Bulldozers are building a fire break to the west/northwest of the fire, a remote area with potential for moderate fire growth. It is this northwestern fire perimeter area that has the greatest potential for growth. Crews have been able to build some direct line on the eastern fire perimeter but are also looking for opportunities to build indirect line as well.  Additional personnel and equipment have been ordered to the Basin Fire and are arriving daily.

Winds should remain light today, with temperatures at the fire of 85-90 and minimum relative humidity of 15-18%. A heat wave forecast for July 2-6 will bring challenging temperatures of near 100 at the fire with low humidity.

The Basin Fire started on June 26th and the cause is currently under investigation. Currently, the fire is burning at 2000-4500 elevation, northeast of Pine Flat Lake, west of the Spanish Mountain, south of Black Rock Rd (11S012) and north of the South Fork of the Kings River. 

Evacuations: There is a mandatory evacuation order for Fresno County zones K29, K30, K31 and K40. Please check the Fresno County Evacuation map:

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e7d6006a016a444db8b210ac4d2eb5cf

NEW Temporary Partial Forest Closure Order for the Basin Fire: To ensure the safety of the public and our firefighters, The Sierra National Forest has issued a Forest Closure for the Basin Fire area. Effective June 30, 2024, the closure will remain in effect until July 30, 2024. We urge the public to respect all closure signs and barriers and to avoid the area to prevent any potential accidents or interference with firefighting efforts. Please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra for the forest order and area map.

Forest Visitors:  this may impact your holiday plans! You will not be able to visit the campgrounds and trails within the closure area.  Please support our firefighters and stay out of this area.

Smoke: Visit AirNow to check the Air Quality Index in your area and recommendations to protect your health. 

Firefighters continue burn operations on the McDonald Fire

Size: 41,892 acres 
Personnel: 76 
Start Date: June 8, 2024 
Cause: Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – With the assistance of a helicopter providing aerial ignitions, crews continued burning operations Thursday to protect cabins along 5 Mile Creek. The goal of these operations is to remove burnable vegetation in a controlled manner in front of the fire, decreasing the threat to the cabins as fire activity on the south end increases. Firing operations will continue Friday to gain additional depth of containment lines and reduce spotting potential. Please use caution and turn on headlights while driving along the Richardson Highway as smoke may impact visibility. The fire danger in the area remains critically high. 

Firefighters have completed prepping cabins with sprinklers and removing nearby burnable vegetation. As the day heats up, firefighters will use the sprinkler systems to wet down the area around cabins. Smokejumpers are being inserted into military lands to reduce hazardous fuels and install sprinklers, pumps and hose to protect military infrastructure northwest of the fire. There are three designated firefighters acting as fire lookouts feeding timely fire behavior updates to firefighters on the ground. 

Two engines and the White Mountain Module from the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) continue patrolling the Richardson Highway corridor and adjacent subdivisions. 

Weather: Isolated thunderstorms are forecasted Friday afternoon and evening. Northeast winds are expected at 10 mph this afternoon into Saturday, causing smoke to move southwest of the McDonald Fire and away from the Richardson Highway. Drying and warming will occur through the weekend bringing near Red Flag conditions Saturday night. 

 Burn Permits:  The DOF has issued Burn Permit Suspensions for Fairbanks, Salcha, 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. Sunday. 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

Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM Alaska Fire Service in Alaska? 

Visit our Flickr channel! 
Learn more at www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

McDonald Fire remains west of the Tanana River

Size:  39,706 acres
Personnel:  73
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Persistent thunderstorms continue near the McDonald Fire, bringing winds to increase fire activity in both northern and southern areas. Firefighters implemented burning operations Wednesday to protect the cabins along the 5 Mile Creek. The goal is to remove the burnable vegetation in a controlled manner in front of the fire, decreasing the threat to the cabins as fire activity on the south end increases. These firing operations will continue Thursday. Please use caution and turn on headlights while driving along the Richardson Highway as smoke may impact visibility. 

The fire danger in the area remains critically high. 

Crews continue to mop up and put out any hot areas along the fireline constructed directly at the southern edge closest to the 5 Mile Creek cabins to provide additional protection. Firefighters have completed prepping cabins with sprinklers and removing nearby burnable vegetation. As the day heats up, firefighters will use the sprinkler systems to wet down the area around cabins. Other tasks assigned to the crews on Thursday include clearing fallen and weakened trees from 5 Mile Creek, assuring safe access and egress from the east side of the fire. There are three designated firefighters at lookouts feeding timely fire behavior updates to firefighters on the ground. 

Two engines and the White Mountain Module from the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) continue patrolling the Richardson Highway corridor and adjacent subdivisions. 

Weather: Thursday will see areas of dense smoke with numerous showers and possible wetting rains at night. Winds will also switch to out of the northeast and push smoke south of the fire starting Friday afternoon. A drying and warming trend and reduction in number of thunderstorms will resume over the weekend. 

Burn Permits:  The DOF has issued Burn Permit Suspensions for Fairbanks, Salcha, 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. Sunday. 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.

Firefighters maintain vigilant on McDonald Fire

Size:  38,117 acres
Personnel:  73
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Following several days of persistent thunderstorms, firefighters remain alert for another bout of gusty, erratic winds on the McDonald Fire Wednesday afternoon. These winds, coupled with higher temperatures, may result in an increase of fire activity Wednesday afternoon. Please use caution and turn on headlights while driving along the Richardson Highway as smoke may impact visibility. 

The fire danger in the area remains critically high. The fire remains west of the Tanana River.

Crews continue to mop up and put out any hot areas along the direct fire line to provide additional protection to cabins on the 5 Mile Creek. Firefighters have completed prepping cabins with sprinklers and removing nearby burnable vegetation. As the day heats up, firefighters will use the sprinkler systems to wet down the area around cabins. Other tasks assigned to the crews on Wednesday include clearing fallen and weakened trees from 5 Mile Creek, assuring safe access and egress from the east side of the fire. There are three designated firefighters at lookouts on the east side of the fire feeding timely fire behavior updates to other firefighters. 

Two engines and the 11-person White Mountain Module from the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) are patrolling the Richardson Highway corridor and adjacent subdivisions. 

Weather:  Temperatures are expected to increase Wednesday. Isolated thunderstorms will increase in occurrence and become widely scattered in the afternoon and evening Wednesday. Small hail and gusty winds will accompany thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Isolated thunderstorms will persist through Thursday with widely scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. 

Burn Permits:  The DOF has issued Burn Permit Suspensions for Fairbanks, Salcha, 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. Thursday. 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 a few fires in the Yukon Flats 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

Need public domain imagery to complement news coverage of the BLM Alaska Fire Service in Alaska? 

Visit our Flickr channel! 
Learn more at www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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.