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Bear Creek, Rock Creek fires added to Anderson Complex

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. The date was changed due to scheduling conflicts. 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 & Fire Protection Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.

FIRE UPDATE: The Bear Creek (#286) and Rock Creek (#287) fires were incorporated into the Anderson Complex yesterday afternoon. Both fires were initially reported on July 27. They were sparked by lightning and have been unstaffed. Both fires are about 20 miles northwest of Healy on either side of the Teklanika River, moving mostly north and west.

The Rock Creek Fire, which is in a limited fire protection area, is estimated at 26,302 acres in size. It is threatening structures and an allotment along the Toklat River. The Bear Creek Fire, which is a modified fire protection area, is estimated at 821 acres. Firefighters are planning a recon flight for both fires today, if conditions permit, to begin planning operations.

The fires in the Anderson Complex received measurable rainfall yesterday. The rain, higher humidity and lower temperatures led to minimal fire growth across the complex. So far there are no reports of structures or allotments being damaged or destroyed during the fires’ weekend runs. A fire footprint on a map may be a solid shape, but that doesn’t mean everything inside the perimeter is burned. Wildfires often burn in a mosaic fashion, leaving some areas untouched.

The Midnight Sun Hotshots worked their last shift in the Teklanika Group yesterday. They have been released from the fire to rest and reset for their next assignment. A Type 2 crew from Franco Reforestation has been assigned to the group. They are tasked with structure protection and mop-up – looking for and extinguishing hotspots – in the areas of the Teklanika River Fire (#257) and Shores Landing Fire (#325).

Fuel breaks around the City of Anderson are complete. Sprinkler systems set up in the fuel breaks by firefighters are working. Wildland firefighters from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and Kenai are still in Anderson to carry out 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 plan to use hand tools to dig line around a cemetery south of Nenana to protect it from potential fire impacts. They are also tasked with protecting structures in the city and on the east and west side of the Parks Highway south of Nenana.

The Shasta Lake Hotshots are working to find and extinguish areas of residual heat from the Birch Creek Fire (#285) in the Rose Hip Creek and Clear Sky areas. The crew is also reinforcing the structure protection measures they put in place, 

Firefighters from Kobe, Anderson, Northstar, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire and the K River 1 hand crew continue their work to protect structures in the North Forties and Kobe Ag subdivisions from potential threats from the Teklanika River Fire or the Birch Creek Fire. Heavy equipment from the Anderson Group has been reassigned to support this work.

WEATHER: Higher humidity and a chance of rain are forecast again today. This should reduce fire activity. The National Weather Service has issued a Dense Smoke Advisory. For more information about wildfire smoke visit https://akfireinfo.com/smoke-management/. The use of firefighting aircraft may be limited due to reduced visibility caused by smoke.

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.