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WILDFIRE UPDATE - Delta Area

Pogo Mine Road Fire (#191) & Mount Hayes Fire (#299)

Wednesday - August 23, 2023

Type 3 Incident Management Team prepares to return fires to Delta Area Forestry control. The type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) currently managing the Pogo Mine Road & Mount Hayes Fires is preparing to transition management back to Delta Area Forestry tomorrow, 8/24/2023, at 8:00 AM. As activity on the fire winds down and operational objectives are met, more firefighters are timing out or being reassigned to other fires. As operations on the fires downsize, the scope of management needed can be downsized to match.

Pogo Mine Road Fire (#191) – 48,792 acres | 106 personnel | 12 miles NW of Delta

The Tongass Fire Suppression Module works on bone piling and mop up along the dozer line north of Pogo Mine Road. Franco Reforestation crew is working south from the winter trail toward the Chena Hotshots, who continue to construct fire line around areas of unburned fuel and secure edge at the southern tip of the fire. The road group is using heavy equipment to remove downed and hazard trees along Pogo Mine Road to keep it passable and safe, as well as beginning suppression repair work. Backhaul of equipment from structures to the west of the pipeline as well as some structures along the corridor is underway.

Mount Hayes Fire (#299) – 6,720 acres | 2 personnel | 7 miles SE of Deltana

This fire is in monitor status and will be checked by the air.  Pockets of heat remain in the northwest finger and northeast shoulder of the fire. Smoldering fire activity has been observed with occasional isolated torching as fire weakened trees topple over onto heat. UAS will fly a heat detection mission if available.

Weather: Cloudy and cool conditions continue this evening, then slight warming on Wednesday and Thursday. Relative humidity values remaining above 40 percent.

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

Fire Information: Phone number: (907) 921-7852 / Fire Info website: AkFireInfo.com