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WILDFIRE UPDATE - Delta Area Pogo Mine Road Fire (#191) & Mount Hayes Fire (#299)

Wednesday - August 16, 2023

Rain arrives in Delta, Firefighters going direct

Rain finally arrived in the Delta area in place of warm and dry weather. Active surface fire with single tree torching was observed Tuesday, but the overnight and morning rain reduced fire behavior to creeping and smoldering. Firefighters engaged in protecting structures and securing the southwest corner of the Pogo Mine Road Fire by working directly on the fire’s edge. The Mount Hayes Fire has remained in the same footprint for more than a week with minimal fire activity observed.

Pogo Mine Road Fire (#191) – 48,888 acres | 106 personnel | 12 miles NW of Delta

A road group has been established to cut and remove fire-weakened trees along Pogo Mine Road to ensure continued, uninterrupted operations of the mine and firefighter safety. Ten smokejumpers are assessing defensible space and structure protection needs for cabins along the south, southeast perimeter of the fire. Chena Hotshots are cutting sawline and directly mopping up the fire’s edge near the pipeline and winter trail. Tongass Fire Suppression Module is mopping up areas of heat near the Alyeska Pipeline. Tanana Chiefs Conference Crew and Arroyo Grande Hotshots are in place for both structure protection and mop up.

Mount Hayes Fire (#299) – 7,085 acres |  90 personnel | 7 miles SE of Deltana

This wildfire has not spread for more than one week and is currently being monitored by air. Sierra Hotshots are implementing cabin protection for three public-use cabins located east of the Gerstle River and owned by Alaska Fish and Game. Resources remain in place on the dozer line designated to keep the fire from moving north to the Alaska Highway.

Weather: A weather front moved over the Alaska Range and the fire area Wednesday, which brought a wetting rain to the fire. High pressure is expected to cause west winds of 10 to 15 mph from late Wednesday into Thursday and bring drying conditions for Thursday and Friday. A significant chance of rain is forecasted for Friday night and Saturday.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the fires, pilots please check NOTAMs.

Fire Information: Phone number: 541-977-2756 / Fire Info website: AkFireInfo.com  

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