Gusty erratic winds increase fire behavior on McDonald Fire

Size:  35,618 acres 
Personnel:  73
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

Update 1:15 p.m. – The Fairbanks North Star Borough expanded the READY notice Tuesday to residences along the Johnson Road and near the Salcha Campgrounds. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services website.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Forecasted gusty and erratic winds caused an increase in fire behavior on the McDonald Fire Monday afternoon with more expected to occur Tuesday. A large column of smoke referred to as a pyro cumulus clouds developed over the fire and could be seen be seen from much of Fairbanks and surrounding areas as the fire burned through unburned vegetation to the north. These clouds form from the extreme heat of the fire rising rapidly through the atmosphere. Forecasted weather Tuesday includes more thunderstorms bringing additional gusty and erratic winds. Fire danger remains high in the area.

Two Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection engines are currently patrolling the Richardson Highway corridor. The fire remains west of the Tanana River.

Meanwhile, crews continue mopping up and putting out any hot areas along the fireline to prevent the fire from moving south toward the cabins along 5 Mile Creek. Firefighters are prepping cabins with sprinklers and removing nearby burnable vegetation to provide additional protection. 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 Tuesday 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.

Weather: Tuesday expect isolated thunderstorms through the day, with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. This afternoon and evening the thunderstorms could have frequent lightning, brief heavy rain, winds gusting to 30 mph and 1/2-inch hail. Today’s temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than yesterday with very warm conditions continuing into the weekend. No strong winds are expected other than gusty and erratic winds with thunderstorms

 Burn Permits: The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (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: The McDonald Fire, located in the Tanana Flats southeast of Fairbanks, has become an active smoke producer since late yesterday. 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. We also expect increased smoke production from a few fires in the Yukon Flats during the advisory period. Currently, the smoke will move east into Canada. Find information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at the Smoke Management page on akfireinfo.com.

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 put areas along the lower Salcha River, Harding Lake, Hollies Acres, and Canaday 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 this link.

-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 resources shift to meet challenges from the increased fire behavior

Size:  30,591 acres
Personnel:  57
Start Date: June 8, 2024
Cause:  Lightning

Updated information at 4:40 p.m., June 17, 2024: Two Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection engines are patrolling the Richardson Highway across the Tanana River from the fire’s most active northern edge. Winds are pushing the fire, burning through black spruce on the river’s west side near Salcha, creating a visible pyrocumulus cloud. These clouds form from the extreme heat of the fire rising rapidly through the atmosphere.

Updated information at 3:20 p.m., June 17, 2024: As predicted, the McDonald Fire became active Monday afternoon when thunderstorm south of the fire increased winds and pushed the fire to the north. A large column of smoke is very visible from the surrounding area as the fire burns through black spruce in the Tanana Flats Training Area south of Fairbanks. No structures are threatened and the fire is still west of the Tanana River.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – (Original information for June 17, 2024) As expected with the warmer, sunny weather Saturday, fire behavior picked up on the McDonald Fire Saturday with smoldering and group torching in some areas. The fire burned through a few pockets of unburned vegetation resulting some visible smoke. There are two designated firefighters at lookouts on the east side of the fire feeding timely fire behavior updates to other firefighters. Forecasted weather includes more sunny skies, high temperatures and lower humidity for the next two to three days. Fire danger remains high in the area.

The Midnight Suns Hotshots cut a quarter mile of direct line Saturday on the southeast corner where the fire burned closest to the first cabin on the 5 Mile Creek. They are mopping up and putting out any hot spots from the fire along this line to prevent this section from moving south toward the cabins. This will provide additional protection to the cabins that have been prepped with sprinklers and removal of nearby burnable vegetation. As the day heats up, firefighters will use the sprinkler systems to wet down the area around cabins. Other tasks today include clearing fallen and weakened trees from 5 Mile Creek, assuring safe access and egress from the east side of the fire.

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s (DOF) Pioneer Peak Hotshots will transition from fuels mitigation projects at the Harding Lake State Park work on the McDonald Fire Monday. Five smokejumpers will demobilize so they can be ready for any new fires throughout the state. Additionally, another 10 smokejumpers are being ordered from the Lower 48 to bring the total to 30 additional smokejumpers to support initial wildfire response in Alaska.

The DOF Gannett Glacier crew continues completing fuels mitigation at Harding Lake State Park and is ready to respond to any new starts in the Interior.

Weather: Sunday expect mostly sunny skies with some haze and smoke throughout the day. Isolated showers may move through the area with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Expected high temperatures will be around 79 degrees with minimum humidity of 30% and light westerly winds 5 to 6 mph in the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds are expected near thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Burn Permits: The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (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:  No active advisories are currently in effect. Find information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at the Smoke Management page on akfireinfo.com.

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 put areas along the lower Salcha River, Harding Lake, Hollies Acres, and Canaday neighborhoods in a READY status. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services website.

-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.

Warmer, dryer weather predicted as work continues on the McDonald Fire

Size:  30,022 acres    
Personnel:  57    
Start Date: June 8, 2024    
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Sunny skies have contributed to warming and drying across the McDonald Fire. On Saturday afternoon, a fly over of the McDonald Fire showed mostly smoldering fire behavior with some single tree torching on the north side of the fire. A satellite image from Saturday night revealed an acreage decrease providing more accurate mapping.

Saturday, firefighters fine-tuned the sprinkler systems strategically placed around the structures and continued to increase the defensible space in that area. Two helicopter landing areas were identified and improved as part of the incident’s contingency plan in the case that other landing areas are not available due to smoke or increased fire behavior.

Sunday, firefighters will continue to increase the defensible space and open up established trails. The southeast corner of the fireline will be scouted looking for more opportunities to prevent fire spread toward the cabins during the current and future high fire danger weather. Fire specialists are clarifying and improving fire plans for Military infrastucture and identified archeological sites in the area.

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection’s personnel staged near the McDonald Fire at Harding Lake continue fuels mitigation work at the Harding Lake State Park.  These crews, Pioneer Peak and Gannett Glacier are prepared to quickly respond to any new starts in the Interior.

Weather Forecast: Sunny skies will contribute to dry, hot conditions over the fire area. Sunday afternoon the high temperatures will near 80 degrees and humidity will be dropping to mid 20s. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will be limited to higher terrain. Westerly winds will remain light except when storms produce stronger gusts.

Burn Permits: The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (DOF) has issued Burn Permit Suspensions for Fairbanks, Salcha 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:  No active advisories are currently in effect. Find information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at the Smoke Management page on akfireinfo.com.

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 put areas along the lower Salcha River, Harding Lake, Hollies Acres, and Canaday neighborhoods in a READY status. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services website.

Contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.

-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.

Boulder View Fire Update:  June 29, 5:00 PM

SET/Be prepared to take action for 136th St to 144th St North of Dove Valley Road (This area is NO LONGER in Go status).  If necessary, take prescriptions, water, snacks, identification and pets.  Drive with care & follow directions of emergency personnel.
Additional notifications may be made if evacuations are ordered.

The Red Cross Evacuation Center is closed.

ALL OTHER RESIDENTS return to READY status.  Although it is safe to return, continue to monitor information.

The fire remains active – please continue to be safe and follow the instructions of emergency personnel.

For evacuation information: https://www.maricopa.gov/

Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management alerts: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/AZMARIC/subscriber/new?qsp=AZMARIC_1363

Ready, Set, Go: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go

Bartlett Dam Road is closed at Cave Creek Road due to suppression efforts. 

Cabin protection progresses as weather moderates near the McDonald Fire

Size:  32,725 acres (no change)
Personnel: 49
Start Date: June 8
Cause:  Lightning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The forecasted weather should continue to keep the McDonald Fire (#119) tempered from what was experienced during the initial days of the fire. This will allow firefighters more time to fine tune pump systems on the cabins in case conditions return to hot, dry and windy. Firefighters did site assessments of the last two cabins and will start implementing protection measures. They will also make improvements on two identified helispots west of the Tanana River near the cabins. There is no expected change to the perimeter Thursday.

The fire received short shot of light rain overnight Wednesday. The BLM Alaska Fire Service will set up a portable weather station closer to the fire’s southern edge to give fire managers more accurate weather information to use along with what’s produced by the weather station located at Blair Lakes.

Fire managers identified one small military survival structure destroyed by the fire. The shelter was located well within the military training range and near the Tanana River.

The fire is located 9 miles southwest of Salcha between Dry Creek and the Tanana River almost entirely in the Tanana Flats Training Area. A significant amount of spruce trees south of the fire on state managed lands present more of a risk than the more consistent hardwood forest on the northern edge.

A Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) air tanker did proficiency drop of water on the fire’s southern edge early Thursday afternoon. Proficiency drops are done to keep skills and equipment current when not used for fire suppression actions.

DOF also has 42 personnel staged near the McDonald Fire at Harding Lake. The Pioneer Peak Hotshots and Gannet Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack crews are providing fuels mitigation at the Harding Lake State Park and are ready to respond to any new fire in the Interior.

Weather Forecast:  The area will experience partly sunny skies with areas of smoke on Thursday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted in the fire area for the next few days and into the weekend. There is a chance of gusty winds accompanying the rain showers and thunderstorms. Higher humidity levels of 46% during the day and 86% should also keep the fire behavior moderated.

Burn Permits:  There are no DOF burn suspensions for the area. 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:  The Alaska Department of Conservation issued an Air Quality Advisory for the Central and Eastern Alaska until 2 p.m. Thursday, June 13, due the McDonald Fire and wildfires in the Yukon Territory. Find information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at the Smoke Management page on akfireinfo.com.

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 put areas along the lower Salcha River, Harding Lake, Hollies Acres, and Canaday neighborhoods in a READY status. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services website.

-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.

Wetting rains welcomed as progress made protecting cabins near the McDonald Fire

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The McDonald Fire received wetting rains early Wednesday morning. Similar conditions are expected throughout the day with scattered to numerous showers accompanying isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Winds could become gusty and erratic around the thunderstorms along with a chance for frequent lightning and some small hail. Maximum temperature of 65 degrees and minimum humidity of 46% are expected today.

Firefighters completed point protection around the nine cabins along the 5 Mile Creek in close proximity to the fire on Tuesday. This involves removing lower limbs on trees, removing brush and other vegetation and flammable items from around the buildings. Also, pumps, hoses and sprinklers are set up to wet down the structure and the surrounding area as needed. The fire is still .3 of a mile north of the nearest cabin.

Firefighters took advantage of some clearing of smoke to map the perimeter of the fire with a helicopter flight Tuesday night. This showed an increase in acreage and some changes in the perimeter. The fire remains west of the Tanana River.

Work continues Wednesday on structure protection around the cabins farther to the south. Firefighters will assess two more remote cabins farther off the creek to develop a structure protection plan.

The McDonald Fire is almost entirely burning in the Tanana Flats Training Area, which is an area designated for limited management. This means that unless the fire threatens property or people, it will be allowed to play its natural ecological role. If the fire threatens a nearby site of value, land and fire managers may mobilize firefighters to protect the site without stopping the wildfire’s spread. This strategy considers firefighter safety, values at risk, and impacts on the surrounding area.

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) lifted burn permit suspensions for the Tok, Delta, Fairbanks, Railbelt and Salcha Fire Protection Areas. If you choose to burn, make certain that you have a current burn permit. Click here for Burn Permits.

DOF has prepositioned resources in the Interior including some that are doing fuels mitigation work around the Harding Lake Campground.

The Alaska Department of Conservation issued an Air Quality Advisory for the Central and Eastern Alaska until 2 p.m. Tuesday due the McDonald Fire and wildfires in the Yukon Territory. Find information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at the Smoke Management page on akfireinfo.com.

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 put areas along the lower Salcha River, Harding Lake, Hollies Acres, and Canaday neighborhoods in a READY status. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services website. 

-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.

Weather moderates McDonald Fire growth

Rain fell on much of the McDonald Fire area Monday night, with more predicted, giving firefighters time to prepare cabin sites along 5 Mile Creek in case hot, windy, and dry conditions return.

Firefighters started clearing brush from around structures and getting sprinkler systems set in place in case the estimated 28,800-acre fire makes another push south toward the cabins. The nearest cabin is still roughly .3 mile from the fire’s edge. There were a total of 48 firefighters and support personnel assigned to the fire Tuesday morning including the BLM Alaska Fire Service Midnight Sun Hotshots, BLM AFS smokejumpers, and the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection White Mountain module. Helicopters and boats were busy shuttling the firefighters along the cabins sites as they start concentrating on structure protection.

The fire is still west of the Tanana River.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough issued a Level 2: SET level evacuation notice Tuesday afternoon for the approximately 20 cabins that near the fire’s southern edge.

The borough also put areas along the lower Salcha River, Harding Lake, Hollies Acres, and Canaday neighborhoods in a Ready status. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Slope Borough Emergency Services website. This means people living in this area should think about what they may need to do in case of an emergency, especially if extra time is needed when preparing family members with special needs, pets or livestock. Plus, because Alaska is a fire-prone ecosystem, it’s always a good idea to put in place measures to protect your property because a wildfire could occur at any time. Adopting Firewise principles can reduce your risk of damage or loss to your property and community.

The lightning-caused fire started Saturday afternoon and quickly grew to 750 acres within three hours as 20-mph winds pushed it through black spruce. While winds subsided on Sunday, hot and dry conditions persisted that triggered more substantial growth to the east. The fire is burning through black spruce trees, which are highly flammable due to the highly resinous needles and branches that are distributed continuously from the ground to treetop that make them easy to ignite and burn. Westerly winds pushed the fire toward the Tanana River and the cabins to the south while it burned through black spruce. Both the north and south sides of the fire were actively burning on Monday, leading to another day of substantial growth.

Thankfully that won’t be the case on Tuesday, as firefighters on the ground have seen relatively little fire activity through the thick smoke.

The McDonald Fire is burning in the Tanana Flats Training Area, which is an area designated for limited management. This means that unless the fire threatens property or people, it will be allowed to play its natural ecological role. If the fire threatens a nearby site of value, land and fire managers may mobilize firefighters to protect the site without stopping the wildfire’s spread. This strategy considers firefighter safety, values at risk, and impacts on the surrounding area.

The fire reached the training area boundary on Monday, but has moved little since then.

Smoke continued to impact the communities along the Richardson Highway – especially Harding Lake and Salcha. The area will likely continue to see smoke until conditions significantly change.

Find information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke at https://akfireinfo.com/smoke-management/

[yellow] Level 2: SET – Be ready to evacuate.

• You must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Bags should be packed. Level 2 signifies that there is a significant danger in your area. Load your 6P’s and 7-day kit into your vehicle.
• Relocate to a specified shelter (if activated) or with your family/friends outside of the affected area.
• Evacuate now if you need to move livestock, recreational vehicles or need extra time.
• You MAY have time to gather necessary items, but REMEMBER – you must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
• If you have time, when leaving your home, write EVACUATED on a pillow case & hang it at the end of your driveway.
• THIS MAY BE THE ONLY NOTICE YOU WILL RECEIVE TO EVACUATE!

[green] Level 1 means BE READY for potential evacuate.

• Your area is prone to wildfires. Take steps now to prepare for emergencies and hazards.
• Prepare for family member(s) with special needs, mobile property (boats/trailers/ATVs) and pets or livestock.
• Monitor social media, news and radio for information.
• Emergency Personnel may contact you via an emergency notification system.

Contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510, (907)388-2159 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.

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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.

Water scoopers, more firefighters mobilizing to protect cabins from McDonald Fire southeast of Fairbanks

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers and water scoopers mobilized Monday afternoon to protect a group of cabins threatened as the McDonald Fire (#119) continues to grow despite moderated conditions. The fire was estimated at about 24,000 acres Monday afternoon as it continues to burn through black spruce in the Tanana Flats southeast of Fairbanks. Smoke is impacting visibility in the area hindering smokejumper response. Instead, the eight smokejumpers landed on a sand bar at the confluence of the Salcha and Tanana rivers and are getting shuttled in via a boat. Water scoopers were busy dropping water to cool the fire’s edge closest to the cabins south of the training range along 5 Mile Creek, or Clear Creek as others may know it.

Additional firefighters, including the BLM AFS Midnight Sun Hotshots and the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s White Mountain Crew, are being mobilized to protect the 20 cabins along 5 Mile Creek.

Despite the cooler temperatures following red flag conditions over the weekend, the fire continues to be very active – this time on the south and northern sides as it crossed the boundary of the training range into state lands. A westerly wind is also carrying smoke and sometimes ash that has impacted the communities along the Richardson Highway. Click here for air quality information including some steps protect people from wildfire smoke.

The lightning-caused fire has reached the edge of the braided Tanana River around mile post 315 Richardson Highway, according to a firefighter who flew over the area earlier today.

There’s a 70% chance of rain tonight and more moisture predicted in the upcoming days with hopes it will be enough to moderate the fire.

People recreating or living in the Harding Lake area will see an increase in activity from a staging area at a campground. That includes a point to shuttle firefighters and equipment closer to the fire.

Contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510, (907)388-2159 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.

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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, dry conditions push McDonald Fire to an estimated 8,000 acres

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – The McDonald Fire (#119) burning 31 miles south of Fairbanks was active Sunday, growing to an estimated 8,000 acres thanks to hot, dry and windy conditions. While the winds diminished since Saturday, the warmer temperatures helped push the fire out from both flanks as it burned through stringers of black spruce. The fire has had little eastward progression and remains 7 miles west of Harding Lake and the Tanana River.

The lightning-caused fire is burning in an area with a mixture of black spruce and hardwood trees. Saturday’s 20 mph winds pushed the lightning-caused fire west and deeper in the Tanana Flats military training area. The fire is burning the southeast corner of the large training area on the west side of the Tanana River. Weather is expected to cool this week with some thunderstorms predicted to move into Interior Alaska. Temperatures will decrease by about 10 degrees starting Monday and there is a 50-70% chance of rain for the next two days.

The training area has a long history of fire activity that has reduced much of the vegetation available to burn. However, the area the fire is burning in doesn’t have any fire history.

It is burning in an area designated for limited management, meaning that unless the fire threatens property or people, it will be allowed to play its natural ecological role. If the fire threatens a nearby site of value, land and fire managers may mobilize firefighters to protect the site without stopping the wildfire’s spread. This strategy considers firefighter safety, values at risk, and impacts on the surrounding area.

Eight smokejumpers deployed to a military site at Blair Lakes Saturday to take steps to protect the military infrastructure in case it is threatened. The fire was still 1.5 miles northeast of the site. Otherwise, the fire will be monitored by routine flights conducted by BLM Alaska Fire Service Military Fire Management Zone personnel.  

The McDonald Fire is one of two staffed fires in Alaska. The North Star Fire crew and two BLM AFS smokejumpers are mopping up the 3-acre Ed Berg Slough Fire (#111) burning about 11 miles north of Beaver.

As of 7:45 p.m. Sunday, 115 fires have burned about 8,000 acres. The lightning-caused McDonald Fire a looming reminder that it’s fire season in Alaska. Even though a good portion of Alaska experienced red flag conditions this weekend for hot, dry and windy conditions, there relatively few fires and with the exception of the McDonald Fire, little fire growth on existing fires.

Contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510, (907)388-2159 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.

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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.

Thick smoke plume seen from fire burning in a remote corner of military training range south of Fairbanks

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) 7:30 p.m., Saturday (June 8) update – BLM Alaska Fire Service is deploying eight smokejumpers to protect military infrastructure located near Blair Lakes west of the fire. The smokejumpers will remove flammable vegetation and set up hose and water pumps in case the fire threatens the site.

The smoke visible from the Fairbanks and North Pole areas on Saturday originates from a large, wind-driven fire burning in a remote part of a military training range south of Fairbanks. The smoke from the McDonald Fire (#119) will likely be very visible for the upcoming days due to the continued dry, hot conditions.

BLM Alaska Fire Service firefighting personnel flew over the fire at around 4:30 p.m., and estimated the fire had burned a stretch of land 3.4 miles long and a quarter of a mile wide, covering 750 acres. The fire, fueled by gusty winds of up to 20 mph from the southeast, was spreading quickly through black spruce on the west side of the Tanana River, approximately 9 miles southwest of Salcha. The wind was pushing the fire deeper into the Tanana Flats Training Area and away from a cluster of cabins located more than five miles southeast of the fire’s head. Winds are expected to subside to 3-7 mph, with gusts up to 7 mph on Sunday, continuing to blow from the east.

The fire was initially reported by a private pilot at about 1:20 p.m. It is burning in an area designated for limited management, meaning that unless the fire threatens property or people, it will be allowed to play its natural ecological role. If the fire threatens a nearby site of value, land and fire managers may mobilize firefighters to protect the site without stopping the wildfire’s spread. This strategy considers firefighter safety, values at risk, and impacts on the surrounding area. Given that the fire is in a large, roadless training area, any firefighting efforts would rely heavily on aviation support. The fire will be monitored by routine flights conducted by BLM Alaska Fire Service Military Fire Management Zone personnel.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. There was no military training in that area.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for most areas north of the Alaska Range to the foothills of the Brooks Range and from the Canadian border to west of McGrath for low humidities, high temperatures and high winds. The Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch will began at 10 a.m. Saturday and extends through 9 p.m. Sunday.

As a result of these conditions the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is suspending burn permits in all areas of the Fairbanks Prevention Area beginning Friday, June 7. Permits will be suspended in the Delta and Tok Prevention Areas Saturday and Sunday. The suspensions will be in affect until conditions improve. To see if it’s safe to burn, contact your local burn permit hotline. You can also find more information about the Forestry burn permit program and suspensions.

Contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at (907)356-5510 or eipsen@blm.gov for more information.

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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.