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Chance of thunderstorms, lightning forecast for Anderson Complex

WEATHER: High temperatures today are expected to be in the mid-70s with slightly higher humidity. Chinook winds with sustained speeds of 20 to 35 mph out of the south are expected to hang around until midday. The afternoon will bring a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms with rain and possible lightning. Specific crews assigned to the Anderson Complex are designated for initial attack if a new fire starts.

COMMUNITY MEETING: Great Basin Team 3 will hold a community meeting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Anderson Fire Station, 911 D Street. Representatives from the team and cooperating agencies will provide an update on the fire and answer questions from community members. The meeting will be streamed live on the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.

FIRE UPDATE: Another day of Red Flag conditions yesterday resulted in extreme fire behavior for the three active fires in the Anderson Complex. The Teklanika River Fire (#257) grew by an estimated 330 acres to 10,142 acres. The Birch River Fire (#285) grew by an estimated 3,115 acres to 9,422 acres. The Shores Landing Fire (#325) grew by an estimated 1,896 acres to 4,006 acres.

The Midnight Sun Hotshots kept pumps and sprinklers running yesterday in their ongoing effort to protect structures and allotments along the Teklanika River. When conditions are favorable, crews plan to establish control lines to further protect the cabins and allotments by tying together the Teklanika River Fire and Shores Landing Fire.

Work on the fuel breaks around the City of Anderson should be finished in the next day or two. Dozers and masticators are being used to even up the lines and clean up plant debris.

Fire crews have tested pumps, hoses and sprinklers that are set up in the breaks to ensure they work. Wildland firefighters from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Kenai will remain in Anderson to implement defensive actions if fire moves toward the city.

Engine crews from Nenana and the Alaska National Guard continue to work with the Nulato Hills Wildland hand crew and a dozer in and around Nenana. They are continuing to identify control lines and contingency lines that can be put in place to protect the city and residents living to the south of Nenana along the Parks Highway.

The Shasta Lake Hotshots kept pumps and sprinklers running yesterday as the Birch Fire moved north toward structures. They will remain in the area of Rose Hip Creek and Clear Sky homestead today to maintain or improve structure protection measures wherever possible. 

Firefighters from Kobe, Anderson, Northstar, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire and the K River 1 hand crew continue to work on structure protection in the North Forties and Kobe Ag subdivisions. A dozer line north of the North Forties from the 2022 Clear Fire has been re-opened. Another contingency line is being constructed in the northeast corner of the North Forties subdivision to improve protection for the community.

The Parks Highway Group continues to develop structure protection plans for structures from Nenana to Tri-Valley. They have been tasked with expanding their work to include the June Creek and Bear Creek areas. 

The Anderson Complex includes the Teklanika River Fire (#257), Birch Creek Fire (#285), Shores Landing Fire (#325), Kobe Road Fire (#297), Nenana River Fire (#288), and Nenana River Fire 2 (#289). The Kobe Road Fire is contained and controlled. The Nenana River and Nenana River 2 fires continue to show minimal activity. 

EVACUATION STATUS: 

Areas in GO status include:

• The Teklanika River and all residents along the Teklanika River
• All residents in Clear Sky homestead (not the Clear Sky Lodge) and residents adjacent to Rose Hip Creek

Individuals in this area should evacuate now. Do not delay. The Tri-Valley School is available for evacuation parking and will be available as an evacuation center, if needed. 

Areas in SET status include:

• The City of Anderson
• All residents who use any road west of the George Parks Highway between milepost 270 and the Rex Bridge

Individuals in this area should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. 

Areas in READY status include:

• The City of Nenana
• Residents who access their property off the George Parks Highway corridor between milepost 288 and milepost 306
• Residents who access their property from the west side of the George Parks Highway between milepost 266 and milepost 270, including June Creek and Bear Creek
• Residents who access their property off the Parks Highway corridor from the Rex Bridge to milepost 280

Individuals in this area should be ready for possible evacuation. 

Visit the Denali Borough website for additional information.